‘Drug dealers can meet visitors in Goa jails, legislators can’t’

PANAJI - A drug dealer can meet visitors in the prison, but an arrested legislator is not allowed to meet another legislator in Goa, a Congress leader said Sunday, accusing the police of partisan behaviour.

Agnelo Fernandes, a ruling party legislator from Calangute legislative constituency had gone to meet former tourism minister Mickky Pachecho - arrested for culpable homicide - on Saturday when he was denied permission.

“Drug dealers like David Driham (Dudu) and Yaniv Benaim (Atala) are allowed to meet visitors when they are in the lock up. But a legislator, elected by the people is not allowed to meet anyone? Not even another legislator?” Fernandes told reporters.

Fernandes was referring to two Israeli drug dealers, Dudu and Atala, who were recently arrested in connection with the police-politician-drug nexus. State home minister Ravi Naik’s son Roy, has also been allegedly linked to the nexus.

“I wanted to meet Pacheco. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty. This is the principle which guides the judicial system in India,” Fernandes said.

Pacheco is currently in police custody after he was arrested in connection with the death of his 28-year-old lover Nadia Torrado.

Fernandes, for several times in the past, has rung warning bells about the growing clout of drug trade in Goa.

He had also said that he knows numerous instances where peddlers sold drugs in Goa on motorcycles, with police personnel as the pillion rider.

Fernandes is a senior Congress party legislator and is the chairman of the state-run Economic Development Corporation.