Mangalore, August 5: The proprietor of 'Morning Mist', Loretta R V?Rebello, is contemplating a defamation suit against State Women's Commission Chairperson C Manjula for the latter's remarks, during her visit to Mangalore on August 1 and 2. Speaking to Deccan Herald on Saturday, Rebello said the women's commission chairperson has defamed and tarnished her image by issuing statements to media giving the impression that immoral and illegal activities were taking place at the homestay.
“I belong to a traditional Catholic family and have been the president of the prestigious ladies club which fights for just causes,” she said and added that the mental agony and trauma she has been undergoing ever since the infamous attack on youth in her property, is beyond explanation.
Stating that the women's commission chief has defamed, harassed and victimised a woman belonging to a minority community with an intention to tarnish her image before the members of the public and media, Rebello said she may reconsider her decision only if the person concerned apologises in the same forum / platform which she used to defame / tarnish her image.
She also regretted that the women's commission chief, instead of protecting the women, has demanded a probe against the mother of one of the victims, who is no way linked to the incident, and deviated from the very purpose of the commission's visit.
Reiterating that her facility is not a 'homestay' as defined by the tourism department, she said that she has been promptly paying the taxes as applicable.
'Pre-planned'
Terming the attack “pre-planned” and “hidden agenda” of a few people, Rebello also alleged that Corporator Mohan Padil had demanded Rs 10,000 from her for “pooja,” but she had paid only a sum of Rs 6,000.
Though Padil was initially picked up by the police soon after the incident, he was released later. Referring to a government notification dated July 12, 2007, which states that any inspection of a homestay, if the authorities consider 'Morning Mist' as a homestay, by any government agency will have to be authorised by the district magistrate, Rebello said that none of the government agencies have complied with the notification.
Noting that several people including State women's commission chairperson have entered 'Morning Mist' without any authorisation from district magistrate, Rebello said she does not have any alternative, but to initiate legal action against government agencies for illegally trespassing into her property.
The kidnapped schoolboy was rescued by the police and reunited with his parents. Son of a gift shop owner from Basavanagudi area in Bengaluru, Chirag has reportedly told police that decided to make some quick money to spend on cricket betting and gambling after learning kidnap tricks from the ‘Crime Patrol’. According to police, Chirag reached a private school around 3pm on Tuesday on a Bounce rental bike and zeroed in on a fourth standard student who was walking out of school. He told the boy he was his father's friend and that he required help to search for a relative who had gone missing. The boy believed Chirag and rode pillion on the bike. Chirag then engaged the boy in conversation and learnt about his father's business and got his mobile phone number. He then made a call to the boy's father, demanded Rs 5 lakh and warned him against approaching cops. However, the boy's father alerted Cottonpet police and special teams were formed to crack the case. While Cottonpet inspector Venkatesh TC's squad verified CCTV footage in and around the school, Chamarajpet inspector BG Kumaraswamy's team started tracking the suspect's mobile phone movements. An hour later, the suspect's location was traced to a hotel on the Lavelle Road-St Mark's Road stretch. Police rushed there, rescued the boy and arrested Chirag.
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