Team Herald
PANJIM: The Goa Police Crime Branch, investigating the rape case against St Cruz MLA Atanasio (Babush) Monseratte, has now asked for an explanation from Panjim Police for the delay in registering the FIR against Monseratte.
Sources in the Panjim Police have informed that Crime Branch Superintendent of Police Karthik Kashyap (IPS) has asked for an explanation from them for the delay in registering the FIR against former education minister after it came to the notice on April 27.
According to investigating agency, Panjim Police received the information from Child Welfare Committee (CWC) to record the statement of 16-year-old victim girl who was in Apna Ghar since April 11. However, Panjim Police registered the FIR on May 4 after a gap of seven days, after CWC directions on April 27.
Sources at the Panjim Police Station informed that one of the senior police officer who was close to Monseratte was delaying entire process. However, he was seen with the Crime Branch team on May 5 during investigation.
As soon as the Panjim Police registered the FIR against Monseratte, it was transferred to the Women Police Station which is one of the wings of the Crime Branch.
Moreover, there is an element of suspicion raised in the police hierarchy over the leaves availed by Panjim Police Inspector and North Goa Superintendent of Police.
“An inquiry can be conducted if we are not satisfied with the explanation by the officers concerned on their leaves,” a senior police officer told Herald.
The role of Panjim police came under scanner when the CWC revealed that they were told on April 27 to record the statement of the victim girl.
The case of human trafficking and raping minor was registered on May 4 and Monseratte was arrested on May 5 after he surrendered before Crime Branch. The Crime Branch also arrested the mother of the victim and a women who was involved in trafficking the minor girl.
All three accused are presently in Police custody.
Meanwhile, to prove that the girl raped by Monseratte is a minor as per her statement, the Crime Branch conducted Ossification test at GMC Bambolim.
, on Wednesday.
The Crime Branch official informed that they are awaiting the test report which is likely to be received on Thursday.
An officer said that as per HC order, a panel of three doctors will declare the exact age of the girl.
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Maid and driver grilled
It is a difficult challenge for the Crime Branch to prove the statement of minor victim who was allegedly raped by St Cruz MLA Babush Monseratte. The Crime Branch has zeroed in on both the maid and driver and interrogated them. However, sources informed that, nothing could be confirmed from them.
“There is a complete negative statement given by both the maid and the driver which completely mismatch with the statement of victim girl,” an officer, who is part of the investigation, said. According to sources, the maid reportedly told the Crime Branch that she did not even enter Babush’s house and nor had she seen the victim girl inside the house.
The two crucial witnesses were needed by Crime Branch to corroborate the statement of the alleged victim that she was given a drink spiked with ‘drugs’ at Babush’s residence in Taleigao and later taken to the farmhouse where she was allegedly raped.
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Rosy’s police custody extended
The woman who allegedly supplied the young minor girl to St Cruz MLA Babush Monseratte has been remanded in police custody for two more days on the pleadings of the Crime Branch for further interrogation. Rosy Ferrao, a resident of Taleigao, was arrested on May 7 after she surrendered before the Crime Branch. The victim girl in her statement before police had said that Rosy along with her own mother had dropped her at Babush’s house before she was raped. Rosy was acting as a supplier to Monseratte, say Crime Branch officials.
