Team Herald
Vasco: The wife of State NCP president Jose Philip D’ Souza, on Sunday, lodged a police complaint against Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida for allegedly chasing the car in which she, Jose Philip, and their family members were travelling. Almeida has refuted the allegations, which he said was “a stunt to gain sympathy”.
In her complaint to Vasco police, Neny D’ Souza stated that while returning home after watching a movie in Panjim on Sunday, Almeida overtook her car near an ice factory in Chicalim road and then tried to block her vehicle till they reached near Chicalim Junction.
“The Vasco MLA first tried to dash my car while we were on a slope in Chicalim. My driver managed to save the car from falling in a roadside ditch,” said D’Souza. She further said, “Carlos Almeida also stopped his vehicle near the Chicalim Junction and spoke something, which we could not understand. However, it was felt like he had said something abusive and offensive. Later, Almeida even followed us till our residence. I now fear that Carlos is trying to hurt my family.”
Jose Philip said, “I was in the car when the incident happened. We were saved from meeting with a major accident due to the unruly behaviour of the Vasco MLA. This is not expected from an MLA. The government should take serious note of this and initiate against him.”
When contacted, Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida refuted the allegations by stating, “Firstly, I am a very safe driver and I love my car very much. Their car was blocking my access on the road and thus I just overtook their car and never followed them till their home. The same can be checked with the CCTV footage from the building where they live. Also, if at all there was any confusion, then even Jose Philip, who was in the car, should have lodged a complaint. I feel that the complaint is nothing but a stunt to gain sympathy as D’Souza is out of power and is now frustrated.”
Meanwhile, Vasco PI Sagar Ekoskar stated, “We are examining the complaint still as the nature of complaint is non-cognizable. We have registered the case under Section 504 of IPC and further investigation is in progress.”
