NCP minister's girlfriend dies in suicide bid

Pressure on Goa CM to drop him

Nadia Torrado, 27, died in a Chennai hospital late on Saturday night from post-operative complications. She had consumed a large dose of poison two weeks ago and all medical attempts to save her life proved futile. Pacheco had her first flown for treatment to Mumbai and then to Chennai where a liver transplant failed. Police sources say his signature figures in the Goa hospital admission forms.

“We are investigating the case from every angle and have taken all medical records into our custody,” DySP Mahesh Gaonkar told Deccan Herald. The police have so far questioned the woman’s mother and brother in the case.

Hardly new to controversy, Pacheco has filed for a divorce from his wife Sara and faces a domestic violence case filed against him by his wife. He flaunted his affairs with other women with impunity, and got away with it politically. The Goa tourism minister has three children from a live-in partner, who officiates as his wife.

“He has thrown caution to the winds with regard to public morality,” said Auda Viegas of the women’s group Bailancho Ekvott, who have written to the Goa chief minister asking that he strip the minister of his post.

A number of Congress ministers have also been in touch with Kamat to force him to act against the NCP member, saying they felt he had gone too far this time.