Panaji: Goa Tourism Minister Fransisco Pacheco
was on Friday questioned for about eight hours by Crime Branch in
connection with the death of his close friend Nadia Torrado
and the process will continue on Saturday.
The 28-year-old woman died in a Chennai hospital last
Sunday after she allegedly consumed poison. Trouble started
for the NCP minister when women's organisations accused him of
being responsible for her death.
Nadia's family members, however, stood by Pacheco, who has
denied involvement in her death. Police have filed an abetment
to suicide case against unknown persons.
The 46-year-old Minister in the Congress-led Government
appeared before Crime Branch at 10.30 am. He was grilled by
Investigating Officer (IO) Sunita Sawant till about 7.30 pm
with an hour-long lunch break in between.
Coming out of the Crime Branch office after his marathon
questioning, Pacheco avoided talking to media.
"He has been summoned for tomorrow also," Sawant told
reporters.
Nadia's mother Sonia and her estranged husband Wilson
Barretto were also questioned by Crime Branch, which asked
them to appear before it again on Saturday.
"We are investigating the case with an open mind. We
are not suspecting anyone nor anyone is a witness for us. Let
us take their statements before deciding on the case," Sawant
said.
PTI
First Published: Friday, June 04, 2010, 22:50