Supreme Court snubs Pacheco, arrest imminent

The arrest of former Goa tourism minister Mickky Pacheco, wanted by police in connection with the death of his “friend” Nadia Torrado, is imminent.

The Supreme Court (SC) rejected on Thursday Pacheco’s anticipatory bail plea but saved his aide Lyndon Monteiro, accused of destroying evidence, from arrest for the time being.

Torrado, a 20-year-old married woman, consumed rat poison and died at a Chennai hospital.

Justices RM Lodha and AK Patnaik told Pacheco’s counsel UU Lalit, “Unless your [accused’s] custodial interrogation is complete, nothing can be done.”

The judges wanted to know the nature of relationship between Mickky and Nadia and questioned the lawyer about bruises Nadia suffered a fortnight before she died. Pacheco, 46, is facing the charge of with culpable homicide.

“The postmortem report indicates that there are over 14 injuries. There are contusions. Who will explain it? the judges said, indicating involvement of the accused.

The judges also pointed out that Pacheco had taken Nadia to different places in the country for treatment against medical advice.

At this, Lalit admitted a relationship between Pacheco and Nadia.