Goa MLA who ‘bought and raped’ minor held

Panaji, May 5

The Goa Police today arrested former state Education Minister and expelled Congress MLA Atanasio Monserratte for allegedly raping a minor girl after “buying” her from her mother for Rs 50 lakh.

"Monserratte has been placed under arrest. We will be soon moving the court to seek his remand as we need his custodial interrogation," Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Karthik Kashyap said. The girl's mother, too, was arrested on the charge of human trafficking, he said, adding that another woman, wanted in the case, was absconding.

Monserratte appeared before the crime branch officials at 3.10 pm today, and was placed under arrest at 8.30 pm. He has been booked under IPC sections 376 (rape), 328 (poisoning), 342 (wrongful confinement, 370 (A) (trafficking) and the provisions of Goa Children Act and the Protection of Children From Sexual Offences Act. A senior police official said the police had examined 10 witnesses and also recorded the girl's statement before a magistrate.

According to the 16-year-old girl's complaint, her mother and another woman sold her to Monserratte in March. "I have not done anything wrong. The complaint is false and bogus," Monserratte said. — PTI