German rape case: Charges against Monserratte may be dropped

Goa police are likely to drop charges against state Education minister Atanasio Monserratte in the German minor rape case involving his 21-year-old son Rohit.

In their affidavit to the Goa Bench of Bombay High Court, the state police has said that the charges against the minister could not be established and Monserratte cannot be
charged based upon the opinion issued by the directorate of prosecution where the case was forwarded to have formal opinion.
      
Anjuna police which is investigating the case had charged the minister of abetting the crime as the mobile from which the lewd messages were sent to the 14-year-old German girl was registered in Monserratte's name.
       
The Bombay High Court had on Tuesday asked the Goa government to file a chargesheet in the German minor rape case within a week. Earlier, the High Court, taking suo motto cognisance of the case, which allegedly involves Monserratte's son Rohit and public works department minister Churchill Alemao's nephew Warren, had castigated the investigating agencies for the lethargy in the probe.
       
The German mother had accused Rohit of sexually abusing her minor daughter and had also later named Warren in the case. Two complaints were filed in this connection--one each against Rohit and Warren.
       
Police had arrested Rohit on November 4, after he surrendered before Calangute police station.