Goa MLA Babush Monseratte, booked for raping minor girl, surrenders

Mangalore Today News Network

Panaji, May 05, 2016: Atanasio Monserrate, the expelled Congress legislator who was booked on Wednesday for allegedly raping a minor girl in March, surrendered before the Goa Police on Thursday.

The Goa Police has arrested Monserrate also known as Babush, who was expelled by the Congress and is now an independent legislator.

The former education minister has been charged with human trafficking and rape.

 The case was transferred to the women`s police station, which functions under the crime branch, last night.

In a statement before the police, the 16-year-old victim from Nepal said that her step mother and another woman sold her to Monserratte.

She further alleged that Monserrate spiked her drink and then raped her at his bungalow. "The next morning I woke up without my clothes, covered in blood, he was sitting without his clothes on," the teen has told a committee.

According to Superintendent of Police (Crime) an FIR was filed under sections 342 (wrongful confinement), 328 (causing hurt), 370 (detaining against will), 376 (rape) and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Goa Children`s Act.

However, speaking to IANS Monserrate said that the complaint against him was a result of a political conspiracy.

Monserrate was elected to the St Cruz constituency on a Congress ticket, but was sacked from the party after he started hobnobbing with the BJP. He has been booked in the past for extortion.

His son Rohit, was also arrested for allegedly raping a minor German girl five years back, but was later acquitted from the charge.