Mickky lawyers opt out,Anacleto to take up case
HERALD REPORTERS
PANJIM / MARGAO, JULY 22
The Nadia Torrado death case took a strange twist with lawyers representing former tourism minister Mickky Pacheco today withdrew from the case following which United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) Secretary General, Anacleto Viegas was roped in to take up the case.
The twist is interestingly at the time when Pacheco’s police remand concludes on Friday.
Advocates Surendra Desai and Amit Palekar opted out of the case after a handful of the total bunch of 100-odd supporters’ hurled abuses to the pair on losing bail to former minister.
“I will not handle this case anymore for personal reasons,” Palekar said. Whereas, Adv Desai preferred not to offer any comments on his sudden move.
The legislator’s partner Viola was also present when the drama occurred outside the court hall of the Goa Bench of Bombay High Court, on Monday.
Palekar announced his departure from the case following a two-hour long meeting with Viola.
Meanwhile, Anacleto Viegas said that he had decided to appear for former tourism minister, Mickky Pacheco in the court not as the UGDP leader but as a lawyer.
Reacting to the decision by party vice-president, Auda Viegas to quit the party because of his decision to take up Pacheco’s case in the court, Viegas said that Auda should realise that he will appear for Pacheco in the court as a criminal lawyer and not as the UGDP secretary general.
“It is sad that Auda is trying to make up issues. It is her wish to quit the party,” he said, adding “as a lawyer, he cannot refuse the request made by a client.”
He said that he has a duty to defend with all his might the interest of his client, adding that the interest of his party and that of his profession are two different things.
Auda, who had taken up the Nadia Torrado death case as the president of the Bailancho Ekvott, has submitted her resignation from the UGDP, after she came to know that her brother and party secretary general Anacleto Viegas would take up Pacheco’s case in the court.
Auda had contended that she cannot remain in the party when she had to face abuses and threats after she took up with the police Nadia’s death in mysterious circumstances.
“I want to make clear to all concerned that she would continue her battle till Nadia’s case is taken to its logical conclusion”, she asserted.
