MARGAO/PANAJI: The police conducted searches late Saturday night in Colva in an attempt to hunt down the fugitive former tourism minister, Mr Francisco Xavier Pacheco alias Mickky  – an accused in the Nadia death case -- even as the CID (crime branch) questioned Mr Pacheco’s partner, Ms Viola  for eight hours.

The police were tipped off that Mr  Pacheco was likely to visit one place in coastal belt. They conducted searches at three places in Colva and also verified the places where he was expected to visit.  However, his whereabouts were not known.
Police inspector of the Colva police station, Mr Tushar Vernekar and police inspector of the Maina-Curtorim police station, Mr Siddhant Shirodkar were camping at Colva till late Saturday night collecting information.
It is learnt that over 15 policemen  were looking out for the former tourism minister, who  has been on the run since last Saturday after undergoing interrogation for nine hours in the Nadia death case.
Police sources said that their teams patrolled coastal belt of Salcete from 7 p.m. to 10.30 p.m., to detain Mr  Pacheco, but in vain. Police patrolling has been kept up at the places where he may  visit.
It is also learnt that crime branch officials on Saturday again conducted search at Betalbatin but nothing was found.
Earlier in the day, the investigating police officer from the CID (crime branch), Ms Sunita Sawant interrogated Ms Viola, Mr Pacheco’s partner, for nearly eight hours.
Ms Sawant informed that Ms Viola was questioned about the whereabouts of the Benaulim MLA, business of a travel and tours company and about Nadia’s visiting card which was recovered by the police at her house at Betalbatim during a raid on Friday.
On Friday the crime branch had summoned Ms Viola. The police have named Mr Pacheco and his officer on special duty, Mr Lyndon Monteiro as main accused in the case. Anticipatory bail pleas of both accused have been rejected by the session court, Margao as they are wanted by the police for custodial interrogation.
Informing that Ms Viola had little to say on the questions she was asked during the interrogation, the investigating officer refused to divulge more information saying it is part of the investigation.
Ms Viola appeared before the crime branch at around 10.30 a.m. She was accompanied by a security person, besides her advocate, Mr Yatish Naik and another person.
She got down from a white Toyota vehicle and walked straight into Ms Sunita’s cabin in the CID (crime branch). She came back only after 2.30 p.m. but rejoined the interrogation at 3 p.m.
Her advocate, who spoke to the media persons after the interrogation, refused to answers the media persons’ queries on the interrogation of Ms Viola. 
However, Mr Naik observed that her statement could have been taken by the police by going to Ms Viola’s residence also.
Mr Pacheco’s partner had requested the police officer to allow her lawyer to remain present during the questioning, but her request was turned down, he informed.