More proof against Goa minister in Nadia ‘suicide’ case
NCP Minister Micky Pacheco, who is under a cloud over the suspicious death of a young woman, is unlikely to survive the political storm the case has generated as more hard evidence emerges of his close relationship with her.
Pacheco, Goa’s Tourism Minister, is named in the divorce proceedings that were on between Nadia Torrado, 27, and her husband, Winston Barreto, 33.
Nadia, whom the minister called his “close personal friend”, died on Saturday in an apparent suicide bid. The police said the circumstances of the death were such that abetment to suicide was not being ruled out. The case has been transferred to the crime branch after a second autopsy.
Winston Barreto married Nadia in 2004. They had a formal church wedding in 2007, even though their marriage was already stormy. In October 2008 Nadia filed for annulment of the marriage before the Court of the Civil Judge Senior Division, Margao. Her husband contested her petition.
In an affidavit filed before the court in February 2009 (copies of the documents are with Deccan Herald) Barreto said his wife had filed the petition at the instance of “Mr Francisco Pacheco alias Micky Pacheco, who is presently the Cabinet minister of the state government of Goa”. The minister’s “affair” with his wife was “ruining” his marriage, Barreto alleged in his court affidavit. He said Pacheco had even travelled to Dubai with Nadia after her 2007 wedding and lived there with her.
Lawyer Vivek Vas, who was representing Barreto in the case told Deccan Herald, that he had cross-examined Nadia during the proceedings, but she failed to turn up for two subsequent hearings. Barreto, who was with his wife when she was hospitalised after consuming poison, told the police that he had no suspicion of foul play in her death. He also moved for anticipatory bail, though he and his wife lived apart. Pacheco, who separated from his wife Sara years ago, is in a live-in relationship with another woman, Viola who officiates as his wife.
