PANJIM: As Goa police continues to withhold details of the
sensational rape case registered against unattached legislator Atanasio
‘Babush’ Monserrate, the politician – yet to arrive in Goa – is most likely to
move the Children’s Court seeking anticipatory bail. The women police station
under Crime Branch (CB), that took over the investigation from Panjim police
station, minutes after First Information Report (FIR) was registered last
night, has not ruled out his arrest.
“We do not rule out any development in this case. His
(Babush’s) local representative has told us that he is expected to be in Goa
this evening,” a senior investigating officer told Herald as he declined to
reveal any case details at this stage of investigation. Babush had last night
told this daily that he was not in the State but would certainly arrive on
Thursday morning to depose before the police.
Meanwhile, in what could spell further trouble for the St
Cruz MLA, the medical report of the 16-year-old victim has confirmed rape.
Sources said she has been taken to the government-run Goa medical college and
hospital now for further examination.
Her statement would thereafter be recorded before the Child
Welfare Committee (North) at Apna Ghar, where she has been kept under care and
protection. The panel is presently holding a meeting to decide whether or not
to record her statement today, as she is supposedly under trauma. Babush is
booked under non-bailable sections 376 (rape), 370 (buying or disposing any
person as slave), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 328 (causing hurt by poisoning)
of Indian Penal Code, sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Children from
Sexual Offenses Act and section 8 of Goa Children’s Act.
