Tuesday, February 22 2005 22:17 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Panaji: A Congress MLA today (Feb 22, 2005) filed a complaint against the Speaker of Goa legislative Assembly Vishwas Satarkar, accusing him of "colluding and conspiring" with a BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) activist and an MLA in forging the signature of Independent MLA Filipe Neri Rodrigues.

In a four-page complaint handed over to DGP U K Katna, CLP Spokesperson Jitendra Deshprabhu accused Satarkar of actively taking sides with petitioner Sadanand Shet and a party worker and demanded that the Speaker be arrested and produced before a court "for custodial and judicial interrogation."

When contacted, DGP Katna confirmed that he had recieved the complaint. "I have recieved a complaint regarding a matter that we are already investigating. I have referred it to the concerned officer for examination," he said.

Deshprabhu had accused Satarkar of acting in a partisan manner and said his detention for investigation, his production before courts did not amount to any breach of privilege.

Neri is facing a disqualification petition filed by Shet against him, claiming that he had joined BJP in 2002 and hence could not be qualified as an independent MLA.

Arguments in the case has concluded today and the Speaker has reserved the order on the matter.

Neri had filed a complaint stating that his signature on the membership form had been forged and had named Shet and BJP General Secretary Satish Dhond in his complaint.

However, no investigations have been carried out in the matter as it is considered to be sub-judice.