Pacheco sent to two days judicial custody, hospitalised (Third Lead)

PANAJI - Hours after a Goa court Saturday sent former tourism minister Mickky Pacheco to two days judicial custody following his surrender in connection with the mysterious death of his alleged lover, he was admitted to a hospital after complaining of chest pain.

After remaining underground for nearly a month, Pacheco - charged with culpable homicide following the suspicious death in Chennai of 28-year-old Nadia Torrado - appeared before Margao District and Sessions Judge U.V. Bakre

Bakre, who heard Pacheco’s interim bail plea, reserved the order until Monday afternoon and sent the former minister to two days judicial custody.

Within a couple of hours, Pacheco complained of chest pain following which he was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the government-run Hospicio hospital in Margao.

“We have admitted Mr Pacheco. He is currently under observation,” hospital officials said.

Pacheco’s application for anticipatory bail was rejected by the Supreme Court Thursday.

The former minister and his aide Lyndon Monteiro face culpable homicide charges in connection with Nadia’s death May 30. Nadia died after consuming rat poison following an apparent row with Pacheco.

The former minister went underground after being grilled by the Crime Branch for over nine hours June 4.

Monteiro, who was also missing for nearly a month, appeared before the Crime Branch officials Saturday, who interrogated him