PANJIM: MLA Babush Monserrate slipped into a hall of shame and utter ignominy, when he was arrested for the rape and trafficking of a minor girl, in the wake of mounting “digital, forensic and circumstantial evidence” against him, according to the Crime Branch. The MLA was booked on Wednesday afternoon, while he was away from Goa. Even as he reached Goa and then drove to the Crime Branch, his homes including the farmhouse behind his ancestral home where the rape was allegedly committed was searched, along with the victim girl.
The girl’s mother was questioned at the Panjim women’s cell and subsequently arrested. According to police sources, the arrest was based on her victim daughter’s statement, that during an altercation with her mother, after she was allegedly raped, her mother shouted that she (the girl) was sold to Babush Monserrate for Rs 50 lakhs. The charge of human trafficking was thus slapped on the mother and Monserrate.
Monserrate, who appeared before Crime Branch officials at 3:10 pm was placed under arrest at 08:30 pm.
“Monserrate has been placed under arrest. We will be moving the Court to seek remand as we require his custodial interrogation. The case is very strong, prima facie an offence has been established and we have recorded statements of almost 10 witnesses so far,” Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Karthik Kashyap said.
He said police have collected digital, forensic and circumstantial evidence, which collaborates the statement given by the 16-year-old girl before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).
Kashyap said the girl’s mother was also arrested after being interrogated at the Women Police Station.
He added that police are on the lookout for another woman from Taleigao, Rosy Ferros, who is a co-conspirator in the case.
Kashyap said Ferros and the girl’s mother had sold the girl to Monserrate for Rs 50 lakh. He said the girl in her statement said that her mother had taken Rs 50 lakh and had stated before the CWC that she had been dropped at Monserrate’s farmhouse in Taleigao by her mother and Ferros.
The girl’s mother and Ferros, who is named in the FIR, have been booked for human trafficking.
Monserrate has been booked under Sections 376, 328, 342, 370 (A), 109, 120-B of Indian Penal Code, Section 8 (2) of Goa Children Act and sections 3, 4 of the POSCO Act.
Monserrate who was in Mumbai when the FIR was lodged against him at the women’s police station, came to Goa by road and drove to the Ribandar office of Crime Branch.
The women’s police station had summoned Monserrate asking him to remain present before Investigating Officer Sudiksha Naik on Thursday evening but Monserrate surrendered before the Crime Branch SP who is heading the women’s police station. He was accompanied by wife Jennifer and a few supporters when he arrived at the CB office.
Just before his arrest, Monserrate spoke to Herald and said he has not done anything wrong which was why he was cooperating with the investigation.
“I have not done anything wrong. The complaint is totally false and bogus. This is just to frame me. I am not a fugitive, I am a law-abiding citizen and that is the reason why I have come here. Nothing more than that,” Monserrate said at the CB office just before his arrest.
He added that he doesn’t know the girl’s mother, had never met her and denied having paid Rs 50 lakh to her.
Monserrate’s counsel, advocate Rajeev Gomes said the complaint contains false content and his client will cooperate with the investigation, allowing sufficient time for interrogation.
