MARGAO: Additional Sessions Judge II Sayonara Teles Laad on Saturday granted anticipatory bail to former tourism minister Francisco Xavier alias Mickky Pacheco with stringent conditions that include banning him from entering his home village of Betalbatim and Utorda where the incident reportedly occurred and further ordered him to report to the police station if required.
Mickky has been ordered to furnish a bond of Rs 20,000 on condition that he does not tamper with evidence and does not leave Goa without informing the court and the police. But more significant are the conditions laid down to prevent him from tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses.
The court has banned Mickky from entering Betalbatim village for 15 days which means he cannot go to his house for a fortnight. Besides, he has been prohibited from entering Utorda village for 60 days. “I am happy as the police can carry on their investigations without any problem and not being able to go home saves me a lot of money,” he said reacting to the order.
The judge also ordered that the former minister will have to report to the Verna Police Station if required by the police for five days starting from March 18. He would have to report to the police station from 10 am to 1 pm.
Earlier in the morning Adv Carlos Alvares arguing the bail application on behalf of Mickky said the complaint was lodged only to sensationalise the matter for publicity and that the Silva’s provoked Mickky as they travelled all the way from Betalbatim to Utorda to record the video.
He also argued that the complaint was politically motivated as the Silva family was on inimical terms with his client and had even addressed public meetings during the assembly elections supporting Mickey’s rival candidate.
Public Prosecutor V G Costa arguing against the bail application said Mickky would influence the witnesses if released on bail and further argued that police had to be given a free hand to investigate. He also argued that law makers cannot be law breakers referring to Mickky having been a minister earlier.
