Pacheco files for anticipatory bail

Pacheco files for anticipatory bail
Terms allegations as vague
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, JUNE 8
After eluding the Crime Branch for the last four days, former Tourism Minister, Mickky Pacheco on Tuesday knocked the doors of the South Goa Sessions Court for anticipatory bail in the Nadia Torrado death case.
In his petition filed in the court on Tuesday noon, Pacheco said his name has been dragged into the case to sensationalise the whole incident, created by his rivals to malign and tarnish his reputation.
He charged officials of the investigating agency for acting at the behest of some of the people, who are hell bent upon tarnishing and destroying his image.
Saying that the first information report (FIR) does not name him as an accused or a suspect in Nadia’s death, Pacheco said there is no evidence to nail him in the case and blamed the investigating agency for manufacturing the present case.
Submitting that the ongoing investigations are aimed at harassing and torturing him, he claimed that the allegations made in the FIR are highly improbable and the same cannot be relied upon prima facie.
The former tourism minister said there is no likelihood of he jumping the bail as he has always been cooperating with the investigating agency and is a  legislator of his constituency.
Incidentally, the former tourism minister referred to the statement made by deceased Nadia Torrado that she had consumed ratol by mistake. He pointed out that he had joined the interrogations by mistake and had answered all questions after being grilled for nine hours.
Pacheco, however, said that he is now apprehending his arrest on motivated considerations and termed all allegations in the case as vague.
He said that he is neither likely to influence any witnesses nor is he likely to tamper with witnesses. “The entire evidence is in the possession of the investigating agency. Moreover, being deep rooted in the society, I will always be available to face the trial”, Pacheco submitted in his bail application.
Additional Sessions Judge B P Deshpande has  fixed hearing on Pacheco’s bail application on Wednesday morning and has directed the Crime Branch to file a reply to the anticipatory bail application.