Rohit surrenders to Calangute police

NT NETWORK
Posted on 2008-11-06
PANAJI- Mr Rohit Monserrate, alleged to have raped a German minor girl, surrendered before the Calangute police, ending two-day hunt by police teams following the deposition by the victim before the judicial magistrate first class, Mapusa, on last Saturday.
After his arrest Mr Rohit Monserrate was taken to the Goa Medical College, Bambolim, for a medical test, whose results were not known. Following the medical test he was taken back to the Calangute police lock-up. Mr Rohit Monserrate will be produced before the JMFC, Mapusa, on Wednesday morning.
The police will submit all the statements and related records of their investigation to the Goa bench of Bombay High Court.
Mr Rohit Monserrate arrived at the Calangute police station at around 12.30 p.m. along with his father, Mr Atanasio Monserrate – the Education Minister -- and lawyer, Mr Arun Braz de Sa.
The police after completing formalities placed Mr Rohit Monserrate under arrest at around 3.10 p.m. under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code for raping a minor girl and Section 8 of the Goa Children’s Act 2003, Thereafter they took him for the medical examination at the GMC that lasted till 5 p.m.
The arrest was made in the light of accusation by the mother of the 14-year-old German minor girl that Mr Rohit Monserrate had sexually abused her daughter. The mother made this accusation after going through SMSes. But the girl was refusing to give a statement to the police and running away from medical examination, which were required to make the case strong.
The arrest comes after the German girl broke her silence almost a month after her mother’s complaint.
Talking to the media persons after his son’s surrender to the police, the Education Minister said that he reposed his faith in law.
"Mr Rohit was innocent and was being framed because I am a politician. I will take the best legal option to save my son and even move Heavens if required to save him,’’ he said and added that “I have full faith in law and law will take its own course".
Before leaving the police station at 1 p.m., Mr Atanasio Monserrate claimed that the entire rape case “is a frame-up” to tarnish him.
Later addressing the media persons outside his Taleigao residence, the Education Minister said, "I will not move bail application right now. Let police do their investigation."
The advocate, Mr de Sa came out of the Calangute police station at 2 p.m. and briefed the press saying that Mr Rohit Monserrate has surrendered himself to the police and police have detained him, but would be placed under arrest after completion of all the formalities.
On Monday, Mr Atanasio Monserrate had said that his son was an adult and should be responsible for his actions and must face the consequences of breaking the law, if he has done so.
Mr Rohit Monserrate had deposed before the police on November 1 after he was accused by the German woman of raping her minor daughter on October 2.
The woman had subsequently filed another complaint against the Public Works Department Minister, Mr Churchill Alemao’s nephew, Mr Warren Alemao also charging him with sexually abusing the 14-year-old girl.
The girl, who initially refused to depose finally did so in camera before the JMFC, Mapusa, on November 1 and then got herself medically examined. After that the police had launched a search for Mr Rohit Monserrate.