Former Goa tourism minister Mickky Pacheco was on Saturday sent to two days
judicial custody by a court in Margao after he surrendered in connection with
the mysterious death of his alleged lover.
Pacheco, who was charged with culpable homicide following the suspicious death
in Chennai of 28-year-old Nadia Torrado, was underground for nearly a month.
Margao district and sessions judge UV Bakre, who heard Pacheco's interim bail
plea, reserved the order until Monday afternoon and sent the former minister to
two days judicial custody.
Pacheco's application for anticipatory bail was rejected by the Supreme Court
on Thursday.
Torrado (28), described by the 46-year-old legislator as his "close friend",
died on May 30, a fortnight after she allegedly consumed poison.
Crime Branch has booked Pacheco for abetment of suicide, while Monteiro, who
was Officer on Special Duty (OSD), has been charged with destruction of
evidence.
Pacheco resigned from the Cabinet on June 5, a day after he was quizzed by the
Crime Branch for more than eight hours. Thereafter, he had gone missing.
The controversial lawmaker, through his lawyers, kept on trying for
anticipatory bail moving from sessions court to high court and then to SC, but
failed in his attempt.
Police have kept a tight security around the Crime Branch office, where several
of his supporters had gathered.
Meanwhile, Monteiro appeared before the Crime Branch almost a month after he
went into hiding. The former OSD who also held key posts like vice-chairman of
Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) reached Crime Branch office at
around 10.30 am.
"I have full faith in the judiciary. I will provide all necessary cooperation
required to investigate Nadia's death, which is actually a suicide," Monteiro
said before appearing before the police.
Pacheco's aide, who was summoned on June 6, said he was not hiding but was at
his residence at Verna, 25 kms from here. "I was busy approaching courts
seeking anticipatory bail. Police came to my house only once when I was not
there. They never visited again," he claimed.
Denying the charge levelled by police, Monteiro said he was ready to provide
all relevant information. "I do not want to comment on anything related to the
case as the Supreme Court was still hearing my anticipatory bail plea which
will come up again after three weeks," he said.
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