Team Goemkarponn
MARGAO: The Investigation Officer was supposed to get a summons, but it was accidentally delivered to a forensic specialist in Hyderabad, who responded that it was too short notice. As a result, the Principal Sessions Court on Friday postponed the hearing in the rape case against Minister Atanasio Monserrate.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Vishwesh Karpe, one of the IOs in the case, is scheduled to testify on October 14 when the trial has been postponed.
According to sources ” the summons was mistakenly sent to the forensic expert at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Hyderabad, even though the court had mandated that it be sent to the IO during the prior hearing.
“It was too little notice for the forensic expert to fly to Goa and testify at the trial, so he requested more time. Time has been allowed by the Court,” the source stated.
Now that IO Karpe has received a new summons, she will be interrogated on October 14 and the expert will receive a second summons. Along with all other political trial cases, the trial was recently moved from South Goa Principal Sessions Judge to North Goa.
In 2016, Monserrate was booked for allegedly raping a minor girl. He was arrested and later granted bail. He faces trial in the case as well with the trial court framing the charges in 2019.
Accused Babush meanwhile had applied for an exemption from appearing for the hearing.
Meanwhile, hearings in the 2008 Panjim Police Station attack case where Babush along with his wife Jennifer Monserrate and 35 others are accused will begin from November 8.