Court to frame charges against Babush in 2016 rape case

PANAJI: The additional sessions court in Panaji on Monday dismissed former Goa minister and newly elected Congress MLA from Panaji Atanasio Monserrate’s plea to drop charges in an alleged rape case of 2016 and said charges would be framed against him on June 12. Monserrate said he wouldn’t challenge the order.
The court said the charges would be framed for rape of a minor girl, wrongful confinement, criminal intimidation and sexual abuse under the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The survivor in her police complaint had alleged that her mother had sold her to Monserrate and that she was drugged and raped. She claimed that a neighbour convinced her mother to take her to Monserrate on the assurance that he would take care of them.
Another person accused in the case would be charged for abetment of rape.
“I will face the trial here. I’m not going to challenge this order, because in the police station attack case, we challenged the order before framing of charges and it is hanging in the high court for three-four years now. I believe that by now that matter would have been over,” he said.
Monserrate was chargesheeted for attacking the Panaji police station in February 2008.
Referring to the Supreme Court judgment stating that serious cases against politicians should be fast tracked, Monserrate said he would approach the high court for his case to be expedited.
“Basically, I will go to the high court to tell them to expedite the case. Even if it is held on daily basis, it is fine with me. Basically, I want this case to get over at the earliest,” he said, maintaining his innocence.
The women’s cell of the Goa police in July last year filed a chargesheet against him. When the FIR was filed, charges under the Goa Children’s Act were added, but following ossification tests, the survivor was found to be above the age of 16 but below the age of 18 after which the case was moved from the Children’s Court to the additional sessions court.