Electoral office at Benaulim here has been asked to probe the allegation of dual citizenship against former Goa minister Fransisco Micky Pacheco, official sources said today.
Last month, Election Commission of India (ECI) had asked the Chief Electoral Officer of Goa to probe the allegation against Pacheco, a former State tourism minister.
Pacheco, an NCP MLA who has been a minister thrice, has been accused of holding citizenships of India and USA.
Sources said the Joint Chief Electoral Officer of Goa, Arvind Bugde, wrote to the electoral registration officer, asking to conduct inquiry into the issue on January 24. The letter was received yesterday, sources added.
Pacheco claimed that he had only Indian citizenship. “I have been sworn thrice in the cabinet. If I had dual citizenship, I would not have got the chance even to contest the election,” he said reacting to the allegation.
The former minister had to resign after getting embroiled in the controversy over the death of his lady friend, Nadia Torrado.
“I am ready to face any inquiry. In the past too, I have come out clean after being probed for false allegations,” he told PTI.
