MICKKY FINALLY IN POLICE NET
To be produced for remand today
HERALD REPORTERS
MARGAO/ PANJIM JULY 8
A day after the Sessions Court, Margao rejected his bail plea, the Crime Branch on Thursday arrested former tourism minister Mickky Pacheco at Hospicio at around 5.45 pm no sooner doctors gave him a discharge from the hospital in a day of dramatic developments wherein he was subjected for medical examination at the Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim earlier in the day. Margao Police Station in charge, PI Santosh Desai along with a posse of policemen took the former minister’s custody after he was discharged from Hospicio’s casualty by Dr Eddie de Mello. The Margao police later took Pacheco to Panjim to hand him over to the Crime Branch, which registered a case against him under Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 201 (destruction of evidence) of Indian Penal Code.
Addressing a press conference in Panjim, police spokesperson Superintendent of (Special Branch) Police Atmaram Deshpande confirmed the former minister’s arrest even as further formalities were in progress till late night. He will be produced for remand tomorrow.
The probe, which was moving at a snail’s pace with the absence of the prime accused in custody, will now pick up speed.
“There are many issues which only Pacheco could shed light. The recoveries will happen now and the case will move further. About 50 to 60 per cent investigation is complete and the remaining will be completed with Pacheco’s custody,” Deshpande said.
Earlier, in the documents filed before the court, Crime Branch revealed that evidence relating to Nadia’s death was systematically destroyed, most likely by Pacheco. Nadia’s mobile phone, laptop, passport and the crucial rat poison paste which she apparently consumed had disappeared.
On being shifted to Crime Branch office in Dona Paula for interrogation in a police van, the former minister escorted by a number of policemen defended himself as saying he was innocent when approached by media persons.
Nadia died on May 29, a fortnight after she allegedly consumed ‘Ratol’. She was shifted to Margao’s Hospicio Hospital after which she was flown in a special chartered ambulance to Jupiter Hospital in Thane and finally to Chennai Apollo where she succumbed.
Nadia’s family members offered a baffling explanation, backed by Pacheco that she consumed the poison mistaking it to toothpaste. With the arrest, things will be crystal clear, Deshpande explained, and added that “There are many discrepancies…many things and facts were unclear…the case was also surrounded by a number of rumours which will be cleared now.”
Similarly, Pacheco’s close aide Lyndon Monteiro’s presence will also help move case investigation at a faster pace.
The 46-year-old legislator emerged before the Margao Court on July 3 after the Supreme Court dismissed his anticipatory bail application. He was remanded to two-day judicial custody but had to be shifted to hospital after he complained of ‘hypertension’.
The prosecution on Tuesday however suspected Pacheco may be feigning illness and requested the court to refer him to a fresh medical board. The former minister was today referred to Goa Medical College that conducted his thorough health check, certifying that he does not require further treatment.
“Pacheco was referred to GMC where he was medically examined by senior doctors who stated that he does not suffer from any disease and does not require further treatment. The case was referred back to Hospicio which declared him fit to be discharged,” mentioned the officer.
Asked to comment on the veracity of the previous report by Hospicio doctors, Deshpande declined to reply. His statement however hinted that former medical report on Pacheco’s health status was not true.
“Initial reports were presented in the Margao court. I am not qualified to say anything on medical aspects…GMC report itself speaks about Hospicio report,” was his only reply.
The prosecution, earlier, suspected foul in the first medical report also because Pacheco refused to allow his blood test even though he was under observation for jaundice, hypertension and urinary tract infection.
The Crime Branch had last interrogated Pacheco on June 4 and failed to respond to the summons to appear before the agency the next day, before he moved the courts with anticipatory bail applications. His plea, however, did not find favour with the Sessions Court, High Court and the Apex Court as these courts ruled that the former minister subjects self to custodial interrogations.
It was on Saturday last that the former Minister surrendered before the South Goa Sessions Court and immediately applied for bail. The bail plea, however, did not find favour with Additional sessions Judge, P V Kamat, who observed that Mickky’s bail application is nothing but a camouflage to subvert the due process of law.
In fact, Judge Kamat had observed that Pacheco’s application seeking bail is nothing but an abuse of the process of law, saying the former Minister was intending to have a second inning seeking regular bail under the guise of surrender provisions.
In fact, the Crime Branch had submitted before the Sessions Court earlier this week that Pacheco’s custodial interrogation is necessary to unearth the involvement of more persons connected with Torrado’s death.
