TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Following the directions of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Pooja Kavlekar a non-cognizable complaint has been filed against convicted Nuvem legislator Francisco (Mickky) Pacheco for absconding.
While the public prosecutor pleaded that Colva police be given sufficient time to investigate the matter, the Colva police inspector informed the court that they have information that Pacheco is in Dubai. He also said that Pacheco’s last location was Royal Plaza at Ashoka Road, Delhi.
Advocate Aires Rodrigues, who filed the plea seeking filing of FIR against Pacheco for absconding and avoiding arrest, argued that the MLA had also stayed at the Park Hotel in Delhi and made payments through credit cards. He questioned the investigating officer on whether he was aware of these facts and if he was then he has the power to track the defaulter’s location as the police have records of the legislator’s bank accounts from the investigations of past cases.
The JMFC asked both parties to share information for a swift investigation in the case. She also asked Rodrigues to file an FIR for the court to move ahead with Section 155 and direct police to file FIR under Section 172 for the alleged absconding act.
Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Damu Naik said that if an alliance party member is convicted in a case the BJP need not distance itself from that party. He also said that giving Pacheco a ministry was a duty as it is an alliance partner in the coalition.
