Health Minister Rane directed not to interfere with Rodrigues

Panaji, Jan 25 (UNI) Panaji Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Edgar Fernandes today directed Goa Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane not to interfere with Advocate Aires Rodriguies of Utt Goenkara, an NGO.

Utt Goenkara spokesman Adv Rodrigues has filed an application seeking cancellation of the bail granted to Mr Rane on January 5 in the threat to kill case.

Seeking cancellation of the Minister's bail, Adv Rodrigues today told the court that Mr Rane on January 14 summoned the Valpoi Police Inspector Shivram Vaigankar and pressurised him to register a false case complaint against him despite the fact that the said police officer was reluctant to register any offence as no cognizable offence was made out in sending an SMS to the private assistant of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

Adv Rodrigues further told the court that Mr Rane, while on bail, further abused his authority by asking North Goa Superintendent of Police Neeraj Thakur to furnish him a detailed list of all the incoming and outgoing calls of Adv Rodrigues' mobile.

Senior counsel Mahesh Jethmalani, representing his client Mr Rane, today bagan the cross examination of Adv Rodrigues.

On being cross examined, he told the court that the Health Minister had made him a threatening call on account of the issues raised by Utt Goenkara against Mr Rane and his father Pratapsinh Rane, who is the Speaker of the Assembly.

The court has adjourned the case till March 14 for further cross examination of Adv Rodrigues.

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