MARGAO, SEPT 22
Former tourism minister Mickky Pacheco has moved the court for the release of his laptops and mobile phones seized by the Central Bureau of Investigation probing into the alleged immigration and money laundering racket.
Pacheco’s lawyer Adv Srikant Nayak on Wednesday filed the application before the Margao court seeking directions to the CBI to release the seized laptops and the mobile phones.
Notice has been served on the CBI to file a reply on the application filed by the Benaulim MLA and the application is likely to come up for hearing before the court tomorrow morning.
In his application, the MLA maintained that the investigating agency can very well obtain all details in respect of the calls made from his three mobile phones from the cell phone companies. He pointed out that there is no need to seize the phones when the call information can be obtained from the companies.
The former minister said one of the laptops belongs to Viola, while the second is not in working condition. The four laptops and the mobile phones were seized by the CBI during raids conducted at his Betalbatim residence-cum-office a fortnight ago.
Meanwhile, the Natekar assault case came up for hearing before Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao on Wednesday, but Adv Naik said the case was adjourned as one of the witness failed to turn up for the hearing.
Pacheco is named as a accused in the assault on the Junior Engineer Natekar when the later complained of assault on him at the hands of the former minister at the Betalbatim office.
