Criminal cases have been filed against four of the 34 candidates announced by the ruling BJP for the Goa Assembly elections on Thursday.
In 2016, the incumbent MLA from Panaji, Atanasio Monserratte, was accused of ‘purchasing’ a juvenile girl and rapping her. According to police sources, the case is still ongoing.
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For alleged rape, wrongful imprisonment, and criminal intimidation, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act and the Indian Penal Code.
The event, according to the victim, occurred in March 2016 while Monserratte was a member of Congress and represented the St Cruz position in the Assembly.
According to sources, Monserratte — who later joined the BJP — and his wife Jennifer are also facing charges for allegedly being part of a crowd that invaded the Panaji police station in 2008.
Former Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude, who recently joined the BJP, is another candidate with a criminal case pending against him.
Gaude was charged three times after the incident, although he was acquitted in two of them. The Supreme Court is currently hearing a petition in the third case.
Ramesh Tawadkar, a former BJP minister who was just elected to the Canacona seat, is a defendant in the same case.
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During the agitation, tribal demonstrators clashed with villagers in Bali village, South Goa district.
The BJP declared candidates for 34 of Goa’s 40 constituencies on Thursday.
