Linked to companion’s death, Goa tourism minister quits

PANAJI - Goa Tourism Minister Mickky Pacheco, accused by his wife of bigamy and embroiled in a controversy over the death of his third companion, resigned Saturday, an official said here.

Pacheco was questioned for nearly nine hours by Crime Branch officers Friday in connection with the death of his 28-year-old companion Nadia Torrado.

He sent his resignation to Chief Minister Digambar Kamat Saturday afternoon and has not been contactable since.

In his letter, Pacheco said he was resigning from the cabinet in view of the allegations levelled against him in connection with the death of Nadia. She died May 30 at a Chennai hospital, 15 days after she consumed rat poison.

Police said the Nationalist Congress party (NCP) legislator from Benaulim had gone underground after he faxed his resignation.

“We had called him to the Crime Branch for a second questioning session today (Saturday). We have not been able to contact him ever since he submitted his resignation,” a Crime Branch officer said.

Speaking to reporters in Panaji, police public relations officer Atmaram Deshpande said: “We have alerted all the police stations. The minister is not traceable.”

The death of Nadia and the alleged involvement of the minister has created a furore in Goa with the opposition demanding a probe by a senior Indian Police Service officer or by the Central Bureau of Investigation. Women’s rights groups in Goa have also been gunning for Pacheco, who has several criminal cases against him, including bigamy, extortion and assault.