Charges to be framed against Panaji MLA in rape case

PANAJI: The additional sessions court in Panaji has directed framing of charges against former education minister and newly-elected Congress MLA for Panaji, Atanasio 'Babush' Monserrate in a rape case of a minor girl dating back to 2016.
The charges of rape, wrongful confinement, criminal intimidation and sexual abuse under the protection of children from sexual offences (POSCO) act, will be framed on June 12.
Monserrate who was sworn in last week as Panaji MLA after defeating two-time MLA and Manohar Parrikar’s protégé Sidharth Kuncalienker told media persons that he would not challenge the verdict in the high court but would face trial.
He said that he would file a petition in the high court to have the case fast-tracked.
The girl in her police complaint had alleged that her mother had sold her to Monserrate and that she was drugged and raped.