Panaji: In fresh trouble for former Goa
minister Fransisco Pacheco, a local court today dismissed his
bail plea terming it as an "abuse of law" and said police can
arrest him once he is discharged from hospital.
"In fact, the application for seeking bail is nothing
but abuse of the process of law," Additional Sessions Judge
Pramod Kamat said in his order.
Pacheco, who is admitted in the ICU of a government-
run hospital, after being remanded in judicial custody, had
filed a bail application before the sessions court after
surrendering on Saturday. He was booked by the Crime Branch in
connection with death of his friend Nadia Torrado (28), who
died allegedly after consuming poison.
The 46-year-old NCP legislator was booked on the
charge of abetment to suicide and culpable homicide not
amounting to murder.
The court dismissed his petition asking police to take
him into custody when he is discharged from the hospital or
when he is medically fit.
The Crime Branch had raised suspicion on the
genuineness of Pacheco`s sickness. Public Prosecutor Sarojini
Sardinha yesterday said the medical certificates produced in
the court were suspicious and demanded that Pacheco be
examined by a panel of doctors.
The judge, however, refused to entertain the
application asking for Pacheco`s examination by a medical
board stating that the public prosecutor should make such a
request before a judicial magistrate.
The court said there is no clinical basis based on the
investigation or certificate issued by doctor to arrive at a
conclusion that ailment of the accused is serious.
"The medical certificate does not bear the date and
there is vagueness in the report," the order reads.
The judge said that the event subsequent to the Apex
Court order projected by the advocate for applicant does not
amount to change in circumstances.
The court termed the bail application as `an attempt
to have a second innings and to camouflage and to circumvent
the orders passed by the Apex Court`.
Last week, the Supreme Court had dismissed
anticipatory bail petition by Pacheco.
PTI
