Police register complaint against health minister Rane

Panaji, Aug 22 (UNI) Old Goa police today registered a First Information Report (FIR) against health minister Viswajit Rane for allegedly threatening a noted social activist, Advocate Aires Rodrigues of dire consequences on July 31.

The police registered the case under section 506(2) IPC for criminal intimidation. They said they would take appropriate action against the minister.

Rodrigues had served a legal notice on the Chief Secretary of Goa yesterday for the alleged failure of the police to take action against Rane.

Rodrigues, in his notice, regretted that no action had been taken on his complaint to the Old Goa Police that on July 31 he had received a call on his mobile phone from Rane, who allegedly said,'' This is Vishwajeet Rane. Be careful. I will get you shot.'' Rodrigues apprehended that the call was made as he was exposing the alleged misdeeds of Rane through an NGO. The call was later traced to the mobile phone of Rane's wife Divya Rane.

The police had failed to register a case despite his complaint and take suitable action against the couple due to ''political pressure'' even as Rane was given the Z-category security cover, he stated in the notice.

Rodrigues said he would be constrained to file a petition in the Panaji bench of the High court of Bombay if he failed to receive a favourable reply from the chief secretary in three days.

Copies of the notice have been sent to the Director General of Police, and the Deputy Inspector General of Police even as Rodrigues had submitted a memorandum to governor S C Jamir seeking his intervention for rendering justice.

UNI