MARGAO:  The beleaguered former tourism minister, Francisco Xavier Pacheco alias Mickky was arrested by the Margao town police on Friday in a case of forgery and cheating, even as he was remanded to 14-day judicial custody in the Nadia death case.

Margao police station sub-inspector, Mr Nilesh Dhaigodkar made an application before the judicial magistrate first class, Margao, praying that Pacheco is required by them in the investigation of the forgery cases filed by his estranged wife, Ms Sara Pacheco. The police prayed for transfer warrant, which was granted by the court.
Pacheco was brought to the Margao police station with police escort, where he was arrested at around 1 p.m. However, Pacheco’s advocate, Mr Anacleto Viegas moved an application for bail before the JMFC Margao for his release in the forgery case and arguments were heard.  The court after hearing the arguments granted conditional bail and ordered the police to release him upon furnishing a bond of Rs 10,000 with one surety in like amount. But he has not furnished surety in the case.
The Margao police on February 19, 2009 had registered the offence against Pacheco and others for allegedly cheating and forging the documents.  Ms Sara Pacheco had lodged two complaints giving details of the cases.
The Margao police said that two separate offences have been registered against Pacheco and others and investigations in these cases were in progress.
The police informed that in one case Ms Sara Pacheco in her complaint alleged that Pacheco forged her signature on the power of attorney document executed in Margao, while in the second case it is alleged  that signature was forged on an agreement of sale of a flat.
On Friday, he was arrested and released in the first case, while in the second case Pacheco applied for anticipatory bail before the sessions court and obtained interim relief.
The police said that offences have been registered under sections 403, 407, 420, 453,  454, 467,  468,  471, 474 and 120 B of the IPC. 
After his arrest a specimen signature of Pacheco was taken. The specimen signatures of the former minister and Ms Sara Pacheco  would  be referred to an expert and a report would be sought, the police said.
Pacheco was also produced on Friday before the JMFC, Margao, who remanded him   to 14-day judicial custody in the Nadia death case, which is being probed by the CID (crime branch).
A bail application moved by Pacheco in connection with Nadia’s death was heard by the additional district and sessions judge, Mr B P Deshpande on Friday and the matter has been posted for order on Monday.
The court heard the arguments put forth by defence as well as prosecution. Mr Viegas, who appeared on behalf of Pacheco, argued that his client has not been interrogated by the police for the last eight days and now has been remanded to judicial custody. Mr Viegas claimed that his client has been unnecessarily implicated in the Nadia death case and prayed for Pacheco’s bail.
The public prosecutor, Ms T S Sardinha argued that laptop, mobile phones and  documents have to be recovered from the former minister in the death case.
Pacheco has also moved anticipatory bail application before the sessions court, South Goa, in connection with a case registered by the Quepem police against him. The Quepem police on January 8, 2009 had seized a car from Canacona allegedly sold by former tourism minister forging Sara Pacheco’s signature.
The Quepem police have registered offence against Pacheco, Mr Punan Naik and the assistant director of transport, Quepem, in connection with this forgery case. The police said that a complaint was lodged by Ms Sara Pacheco, which has been registered under sections 403, 407, 468, 420 and 120 B of the IPC.
The former minister has also moved anticipatory bail application before the sessions court, South Goa, over  a case registered by the Colva police in connection with illegal land filling at Sernabhatim.
In both these cases the court has passed interim orders. However, main arguments have not been heard.