Pacheco surrenders in court

PANAJI - Former Goa tourism minister Mickky Pacheco surrendered before a court in Margao Saturday in connection with the mysterious death of his alleged lover,

Pacheco’s interim bail plea was being heard in the court of Margao district and sessions judge U.V. Bakre, with a Crime Branch contingent waiting outside the court premises to arrest him.

Pacheco, charged with culpable homicide following the death of 28-year-old Nadia Torrado, was on the run for nearly a month.

His application for anticipatory bail was rejected by the Supreme Court Thursday.

Pacheco and his aide Lyndon Monteiro face charges of culpable homicide in connection with Nadia’s death in Chennai 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 also appeared before the Crime Branch Saturday, is being questioned by officials.