india

Updated: Jun 01, 2019 21:30 IST

Police have booked newly elected Panaji Congress MLA Atanasio Monserrate, the city mayor and a former deputy mayor for allegedly molesting a woman during an anti-encroachment drive outside a casino in the city on Friday.

Police swung into action after the woman filed a complaint against them. The incident took place on Friday evening during a drive organised by the corporation of Panaji against encroachments by casinos on the embankment of the river Mandovi that flows through the city.

During the drive, Monserrate, mayor Uday Madkaikar, former mayor Yatin Parekh and others confronted the casino staff who were protesting the drive. In her complaint, the woman alleged that the MLA and his associates abused her, pushed her and made vulgar gestures. An FIR has been filed under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 354 (outraging modesty), 504 (breach of the peace), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

He denied the charges and said whatever happened was in full public view and recorded by the news media, which was also present. The three men filed for anticipatory bail on Saturday.

In the run-up to by-elections, Monserrate had promised to rid the Mandovi of boat-borne casinos within 100 days of taking office. He is already facing charges of rape of a young employee, with the north Goa district court expected to pass an order in the next two weeks.