Goa Minister for Art and Culture Govind Gaude on Thursday said he was verifying complaints that two women were allegedly molested in Mangueshi temple in South Goa last month.
The minister, who is the MLA from the area, was speaking to press persons on the sidelines of the Goa Legislative Assembly’s monsoon session, which began on Thursday.
“I have not asked the temple [authorities], but I have information from reliable sources because it is my constituency. I just want to cross check to know what the temple authorities have to say and what residents are saying. I am with the people.” He said he could not comment on the victims or whether the incident had happened. “If anything is wrong, I am not going to let go,” Mr. Gaude said.
BJP leader Nilesh Cabral, while speaking to press persons earlier, demanded that an FIR be filed in the matter and that the police carry out a detailed investigation.
Two women had accused a priest of molesting them, in separate incidents, when they were visiting the temple with their parents last month. The Mangesh Temple Management Committee, in a letter to the women on July 11, said it could not “lay its hand on any dependable evidence to establish a prima facie case” against the priest.
