PANJIM: The Women’s Police Station has registered a case against Congress MLA Dayanand Sopte for allegedly trying to pressurise the complainant in the case of ‘infant selling’ reported at Ponda.
Crime Branch SP Kartik Kashyap said that a non-cognisable offence has been registered against the MLA.
While the details of the case have not been released, it is reliably learnt that a lady complainant in the case is allegedly being pressurised to ensure bail is granted to the two accused. There have also been attempts to defame the woman complainant, all of which is being probed by the women police.
A 32-year-old woman was last week arrested for allegedly selling her infant son for Rs 2 lakh, to one Amar Morje. According to details released by Ponda police, the woman, Shaila Patil, allegedly reached out to friends Yogesh Gosawi and Anant Damaji to help her sell her infant son as she urgently needed Rs 2 lakh. The two then contacted Morje who was willing to buy the child. The three men were thereafter arrested.
It is learnt that the woman’s husband was away when she struck the deal and allegedly sold her child in March. On his return, the father of the infant approached the police for action.
Ponda police have registered a case under Sections 372 (selling minor for purpose of prostitution), 373 (buying minor for purpose of prostitution) read with 34 (common intention) of Indian Penal Code; section 8 of Goa Children’s Act and sections 80, 81 of the Juvenile Justice Act.
