Panaji: Unattached Goa legislator Atanasio Monserrate, accused of 'buying' a minor girl and subsequently raping her, was today remanded in three-day police custody by a trial court in Panaji.
Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Vaishali Lotlikar also remanded the girl's mother, accused of selling her daughter to Monserrate through a pimp, in police custody for three days.
Counsel for legislator Monserrate, former Goa education minister, said the complaint against him was a case of "political victimisation" and that certain political forces through the police were slandering his reputation ahead of the 2017 Assembly polls.
"My client has been remanded in three-day police custody. We have informed the court about how sensitive minute details of the case have been released to the media.
This case is a political conspiracy, where the victim has been coerced to file the complaint," lawyer Rajeev Gomes told news agency IANS.
Asked if he was accusing Goa's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government of engineering a conspiracy against the legislator, Mr Gomes said: "I am not saying that, but there is some political conspiracy behind the case."
He is accused of 'buying' the girl from her mother for Rs 50 lakh and eventually raping her in March.
Police on Thursday arrested both the legislator as well as the girl's mother, who is accused of human trafficking. Raids were continuing to track the missing pimp.
He was elected to the Assembly on a Congress ticket in 2012, but sacked after he allegedly started hobnobbing with the BJP leadership.
He has served as a Cabinet minister in the Goa government led by the BJP.
Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Vaishali Lotlikar also remanded the girl's mother, accused of selling her daughter to Monserrate through a pimp, in police custody for three days.
Counsel for legislator Monserrate, former Goa education minister, said the complaint against him was a case of "political victimisation" and that certain political forces through the police were slandering his reputation ahead of the 2017 Assembly polls.
This case is a political conspiracy, where the victim has been coerced to file the complaint," lawyer Rajeev Gomes told news agency IANS.
Advertisement
He is accused of 'buying' the girl from her mother for Rs 50 lakh and eventually raping her in March.
Advertisement
He was elected to the Assembly on a Congress ticket in 2012, but sacked after he allegedly started hobnobbing with the BJP leadership.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
2 Women Gang-raped In UP, 3 Accused Arrested After Encounter: Cops Out On Bail Rape Accused Kill Woman's Mother, Injure 3 Others In UP: Cops Houses Of Rape, Murder Accused In Assam Razed In Anti- Encroachment Drive 'Entire NEET Paper Solved In 45 Minutes Before Exam?': Top Court To Centre 32 Dead In Bangladesh Unrest, Protesters Set Fire To State TV Headquarters "Had God On My Side": Donald Trump Recounts Being Shot At During Rally Google Brings AI To US Broadcast Of Paris Olympics Video: Children Jump On E-Rickshaw, Chase Foreigners For Money In Delhi "Every Time I Try To Eat Healthy" - Video Creator's Editing Skills Amaze Internet Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.