Goa minor rape case: Accused MLA's wife cries political vendetta

Panaji, May 6: Goa Congress MLA Jennifer Monserrate, the wife of disgraced legislator Atanasio Monserrate who has been accused of "buying" and raping a minor girl, has backed her husband, claiming he is a victim of "political vendetta".

"Of course it is political vendetta against my husband, more likely because he said he would contest the Panaji seat," Jennifer, a legislator from the Taleigao constituency, told IANS after her husband was arrested by the Crime Branch.

Jennifer has implied that a recent public announcement by her husband that he was thinking about contesting from the Panaji assembly constituency, a stronghold of the BJP, may have had led to his arrest.

"I am not 100 percent sure but 1,000 percent sure that my husband will not indulge in such activities," Jennifer said.

Atanasio has been accused of 'buying' a minor girl from her mother, with the help of an associate for Rs.50 lakh and eventually raping her.

Police on Thursday arrested both Atanasio as well as the victim's mother, the latter on grounds of human trafficking.

IANS