CBI seeks time to reply to Monserrate allegations
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, DEC 13
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday sought time from the Bombay High Court at Goa to reply to allegations by Education Minister Atanasio Monserrate into the mob attack on Panjim police station in 2008.
In his application before a single Bench Judge N A Britto, Monserrate alleged that the State has till date not registered his complaint against the police for ransacking his house at Miramar and Taleigao and thrashing his family, even after the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) ordered to do so.
Special Public Prosecutor for CBI Joseph Vaz sought time to file a reply and the Court granted a week’s time. The matter will be next heard on Monday, December 20.
The State (Goa Police), who is made second respondent in the fresh application, replied to the Court that since the case was already transferred to the CBI, it had no jurisdiction over the matter.
The CBI in its charge-sheet had mentioned that the minister collected crowd to launch a protest march from Taleigao to Panjim Police Station on February 19, 2008. Stones were also pelted on the police station and personnel, some of whom were not armed.
The minister along with 37 others including his wife Jennifer, former Corporation of City of Panaji (CCP) Mayor Tony Fernandes, present CCP Mayor Carolina Po and others are charged for rioting, unlawful assembly with deadly weapons, causing hurt and grievous hurt to public servants and mischief and under section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
