MARGAO: Principal Sessions Judge B Deshpande on Saturday dismissed the anticipatory bail application filed by Raia Sarpanch Esmeralda Gama as a result of which the police will have to either arrest her or give cohesive reasons why she is not being arrested.
It may be recalled that on October 13, Anthony Barbosa from Raia had lodged a complaint with the Maina Curtorim police that the sarpanch had abused him using his caste and accordingly police had booked a case against her under the Scheduled Caste Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Esmeralda had then moved for anticipatory bail, but the Judge on Tuesday pointed out that following the amendment to the Scheduled Caste Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act under Section 18B anticipatory bail applications cannot lie.
Hence he dismissed the anticipatory bail application on grounds that he has no jurisdiction and now it is up to the police to act on the matter.
Lamenting that the police wasted so many days to act on his complaint, Anthony Barbosa said at least now the police should act on the matter.
