Former Goa tourism minister Mickky Pacheco, who surrendered before the Margao sessions court on Saturday morning, was remanded to judicial custody till Monday afternoon in connection with the death of his girlfriend, Nadia Torrado. His stay behind bars was, however, short-lived as within hours of leaving court he was admitted to the government Hospicio Hospital in Margao with hypertension.
The crime branch has sought custody of Mr Pacheco for interrogation. Dressed in a spotless white shirt and trousers, Mr Pacheco made it a point to smile and wave to the media as he was escorted by the police to a car after his bail hearing at the sessions court. He seemed relaxed as opposed to the day he had been questioned by the police earlier this month. On that day, Mr Pacheco had seemed irritable and had even snapped at a reporter when asked about the interrogation. “Do you understand Konkani? I just said that I will call a press conference and clarify everything,” Mr Pacheco had said then. Of course, no press conference was called and Mr Pacheco went unde-rground the following day.
On Saturday he was a different man, smiling and saying, “I cross my heart and say that I had nothing to do with the death (of Torrado). I am being trapped by my political opponents.”