Atanasio Monserratte surrendered before the police.
By Sreekanth A. Nair
As the nation is demanding strict punishment for rape convicts, the minor girl who was allegedly raped by Atanasio Monserratte, a member of Goa legislative assembly (MLA), told the police that her step mother sold her to the MLA for Rs. 50 lakh ($73,529).
“I was told that my mother took Rupees 50 lakh from Babush and sold me to him,” she was quoted saying by The Times of India. She has also alleged that she was raped several times.
“The medical examination has also been conducted on her at Goa Medical College and Hospital which is positive,” a senior police official told Times of India.
Monserratte surrendered before the police on Thursday after a summons notice was issued against him.
Goa police had registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Monserratte on Wednesday.
“A case of rape has been registered against Monserratte. Further investigations are going on,” Karthik Kashyap, Superintendent of Police was quoted as saying by Press Trust of India.
The police have charged him under section 3 and 4 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and relevant sections of the IPC and Goa Children’s Act. The girl’s stepmother also has been booked for human trafficking.
“The incident happened in March and after that, the girl went missing. She was found by police recently and lodged in a protective home where she disclosed about the incident,” a police officer told PTI.
A special investigation team has been formed to probe the case. The team has searched Monserratte’s house and other properties to collect evidence.
Monserratte, who was expelled from the Congress party last year for anti-party activities, denied the allegation.
“I have not done anything wrong. The complaint is totally false and bogus. This is just to frame me. Nothing more than that,” he told reporters.
“I have not got the copy of the complaint filed. She was working in Hallmark (his showroom). Her parents are voters from my constituency. One of my supporters introduced me to her parents and said she was loitering around. That is how I took her on the job,” he added.