PANJIM, JUNE 14
Lyndon Monteiro, officer on special duty (OSD) to former tourism minister Mickky Pacheco today withdrew his anticipatory bail plea from Goa Bench of Bombay High court after he was asked to remain present during hearing of his plea.
Justice U D Salvi of Bombay High Court had directed Monteiro to remain present in the court for his anticipatory bail plea hearing, which has been postponed to June 17.
Monteiro’s lawyer, Amit Palekar, said that he has withdrawn the anticipatory bail plea and legalities are being examined to decide further course of action.
When the anticipatory bail application came up for hearing today morning, social activist and High Court lawyer Aires Rodrigues pointed out that there has been a circular of the High Court that any anticipatory bail has to be filed by the concerned person.
“The provisions of law and High Court rules mandate that an anticipatory bail application can be filed under Section 438 of the Criminal Procedure Code only by the person anticipating arrest”, Rodrigues told the court.
Meanwhile, the Public Prosecutor (PP) Carlos Ferreira, too argued that the application was not maintainable as it was filed by Monterio’s mother. He demanded that Monteiro be present for his anticipatory bail plea hearing.
Justice U D Salvi told Palekar, appearing on behalf of Monteiro that it was very glaring that the anticipatory bail application was not in accordance with the rules.
Palekar told the Court that he would take instructions whether to withdraw the anticipatory bail application and later Justice Salvi adjourned the matter to June 17.
Monteiro, who has been on the run since June 6, has been declared as co-accused in the death of Nadia Torrado. Last week, the Session Court at Margao had rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Monterio. His plea for withdrawal of anticipatory bail will be heard tomorrow.
Meanwihle, former tourism minister Fransisco Mickky Pacheco today moved the Goa Bench of Bomaby High Court for anticipatory bail.
Pacheco in his petition has said that charges against him are politicaly motivated as he had raised the issue of involvement of senior politican’s son in the drug racket.
The former minister said that Nadia Torrado was his close friend and was helping in her treatment.
Pacheco, who has been declared prime accused in Torrado’s death, was earlier denied anticipatory bail by the Session Court Margao.
