PANAJI: The police custody of St Cruz MLA Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate, who is accused of raping a minor girl, was extended by another four days by the Children’s Court on Thursday.
Babush was arrested on Thursday last week on charges of allegedly raping a minor, exploitation of a trafficked person and under various other offences. Police custody of the second accused, the mother of the victim too has been extended by four more days.
Police had sought 7 days custody however after going through the remand application and arguments of the counsel for the accused and the prosecution, the judge granted 4 days police custody.
The third accused Rosy Ferros will be produced before the court on Friday and police are likely to seek extension in her custody.
According to police, during the initial enquiry and during the custodial interrogation the accused in spite of questioning did not disclose the facts and circumstances of the case and chose not to cooperate with the investigation. Babush is not disclosing any details about the driver/person who dropped the victim from his house and also the details of the maid servant who served the intoxicated drink and snacks to the victim, police said adding that he is also not disclosing anything about the drugs or intoxicants which were used.
Meanwhile, the children’s court has directed the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Crime Branch to file a detailed reply as to how the information pertaining to the probe is leaked to media. The case is being probed by the women police station which comes under the Crime Branch.
Babush had filed an application requesting the court to issue directions to investigating authority not to disclose details of investigation to media.
Women Police Station PI Sudiksha Naik, who is the investigating officer (IO) in the case, filed a reply claiming she did not disclose any information pertaining to the case to the media. However the court was not satisfied with the reply from the IO as such directed the SP to file a detailed reply as to how information is leaked to media.
Later while Babush was being escorted out of the court premises, he spoke to the media and claimed that he has been falsely implicated in the case and that he will expose the people behind this ‘planned conspiracy’.
“Surely I will expose them, who are behind this planned conspiracy once I am out on bail. I have facts regarding the same. I am being targeted. I still maintain that I am clean and I am not involved in this case,” said Babush reacting to media queries.
Babush said, “This is worst politics. I dare those people (in the political field) to face me in the political battle field and not do such things.”
Babush also claimed that on the days (in question) March 6 and 8, he was busy in the CCP election and counting day respectively.