Advocate and social activist Aires Rodrigues on Saturday served a legal notice on the Chief Secretary of Goa giving the government 48 hours to handover the current search for absconding former Minister Mickky Pacheco, who has been convicted in an assault case, to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
In a notice served at the residence of acting Chief Secretary R.K. Srivastava, Mr. Rodrigues stated that if no action was taken, he would be constrained in public interest to move the Bombay High Court at Goa for appropriate orders.
AbscondingThe notice pointed out that Nuvem MLA Pacheco, who until April 3 was Rural Development Minister in Goa’s BJP-led government, was now absconding as he has to undergo a six month jail sentence imposed by the Bombay High Court at Goa on July 17 last year for having assaulted a Electricity department Junior Engineer in 2006.
Pointing out that as Pacheco had not surrendered after the Supreme Court order on March 30 dismissing his appeal, the Margao Judicial Magistrate First Class on April 9 issued a conviction warrant of arrest against him. Mr. Rodrigues said the Colva Police instead of tracking down and promptly arresting the fugitive, were informing the court that they have been unable to locate him despite their ‘strenuous’ efforts’.
Stating that it will soon be two long months that Pacheco has been evading arrest, Adv. Rodrigues has expressed deep anguish that a law maker was being allowed to abscond with government blessings thus making a mockery of the justice delivery system and the rule of law.
