Mickey Pacheco's firm now under police scanner

Panaji: Goa Police has said the activities of the company run by former state tourism minister Fransisco Mickey Pacheco were "very suspicious" and seems to be "a cover for something else".

"There was no formal and structured functioning (of the company). Everything seemed to be working as a personal fiefdom of Pacheco," the Crime Branch in its application to the Panaji Bench of Bombay High Court has said.

"There were no meetings and decisions of the Board of Directors. The activities of the company are very suspicious and seems to be cover for something else," it said.

Police had vehemently opposed the anticipatory bail plea of Lyndon Monteiro, close aide of Pacheco, who is wanted in case of death of 28-year-old Nadia Torrado.

Crime branch investigations have revealed that Nadia worked in Pacheco's company, Bresources Management Pvt Ltd.

Nadia had consumed poison on May 15 and thereafter she died on May 30 in a private hospital in Chennai.

Pacheco is accused of abetment of suicide in the case while his aide, Monteiro, is accused of destroying the evidence. The duo is on the run since June 6.

Claiming that Nadia and Pacheco had an 'intimate relationship,' police said they have recovered a half burnt boarding pass which claims Nadia as 'VIP/spouse of touris... Further alphabets on the pass are burnt, they added.

Police have also said Nadia's mother and her husband's role in the entire case was also suspicious.

Crime Branch said they are yet to get the mobile phone, passport and tube from which rat poison was consumed by the deceased.

"The circumstantial evidence in the house and the room of the deceased has been destroyed by cleaning up," police said.

They have said most likely, the family members or some person connected to this offence has cleaned the house or room of the deceased to destroy the evidence.

Police said this is a very sensitive matter wherein a young woman has died in very suspicious and mysterious circumstances.

"On the contrary, Monteiro being in very powerful position is hell bent on impending the investigations and creating hurdles in the efforts of police to unravel the truth," Crime Branch said opposing the anticipatory bail plea filed by Monteiro.

Meanwhile, Judge U D Salvi on Monday postponed the hearing on the anticipatory bail petition filed by Monteiro ordering that he should be personally file the bail plea.

The plea has been filed by Monteiro's mother, Elvina. The next hearing in this case is fixed on June 17.