PANJIM: Rupesh Samant a senior journalist and TV anchor, on various counts of harassment and sexual intimidation of women journalists now faces a third complaint in addition to the earlier two filed on Thursday. In this complaint a lady journalist has alleged that Samant harassed her for close to a year starting mid 2014. Meanwhile, a second FIR was registered under Sections 354, 354 (A)(D) and 509 IPC based on a third complaint filed on Saturday.
Samant meanwhile has not yet deposed before the police, in spite of two summons being issued against him. His lawyer Raju Poulekar submitted the application to Principal Sessions Judge B P Deshpande at his residence. The matter will come up for hearing at 2:30pm on Monday.
While the police have issued the summons only for his interrogation, it will strongly oppose the anticipatory bail application on Monday
Meanwhile, Goa Union of Journalists has urged Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar to provide security to complainants and hand over the case to a senior lady police officer.
Samant has denied all charges stating that he is shocked to learn that cases have been registered under Sections 354 and 354-A of Indian Penal Code. “He is being falsely implicated in the above said crime in order to tarnish his image among colleagues. The accusations against the applicant are being made with the sole intention of injuring and humiliating him by having him arrested,” the application states.
