Pacheco to attend assembly with armed escort

PANAJI - In police custody in connection with the suspicious death of his 28-year-old lover, former Goa tourism minister Mickky Pacheco will attend the monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly with armed police escorts, authorities said Wednesday.

Pacheco would be escorted by policemen to the legislative assembly complex if he continues to be in police custody when the house convenes from July 19, Superintendent of Police (CID) Atmaram Deshpande told IANS.

“Elected representatives who are in police custody bars are accorded facilities to attend assembly sessions. As a member of the legislative assembly, he (Pacheco) has certain privileges, which are to be protected,” he said.

He said police were in touch with Speaker Pratapsing Rane and the legislature secretary over the issue of ferrying Pacheco to the House from his lock-up.

Pacheco has been booked for culpable homicide in the connection with the death of Nadia Torrado. She died after consuming rat poison after an alleged spat with the minister.

Pacheco was absconding for nearly a month before his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Supreme Court last week. He was sentenced to seven days in police custody on July 9.