Pacheco didn't bribe us: Nadia's family sources NDTV Correspondent, Updated: June 10, 2010 13:43 IST, Panaji
Denying reports suggesting that Goa's former Tourism Minister Mickky Pacheco tried to buy their silence, sources in Nadia Torrado's family have told NDTV that Pacheco gave around Rs 40 lakh for Nadia's treatment, not to bribe them. The former minister, who is missing, has been named the main suspect in the mysterious death of Nadia, his girlfriend. Nadia's family sources also claim they never destroyed evidence and that household and medical waste was burnt to clean the house for Nadia's funeral. "We are being made scapegoats. There were no injuries on Nadia. The post-mortem report was doctored, the sources added. The police have said in court that they believe Pacheco attacked Nadia with a blunt weapon before she died, and that he then tried to destroy evidence. They also allege that Pacheco may have given Nadia's family close to Rs 35 lakhs to ensure they protected him. Nadia's brother has allegedly admitted to receiving this money in installments after Nadia died. Nadia died on May 30 in a Chennai hospital where she had been moved after she allegedly drank rat poison. Her family has offered the baffling explanation, one backed by Pachecho, that Nadia died because she mistakenly used rat poison instead of toothpaste. While opposing Pacheco's bail in court on Wednesday, the prosecution said that Pacheco and Nadia's family had given contradictory statements, pointing to a possible collusion. On Wednesday, sources had also told NDTV that Nadia's mother, Sonia Torrado, is likely to be arrested soon for destroying evidence. Nadia's mobile phone, passport, laptop and the crucial tube of rat poison that she is alleged to have consumed have disappeared. Women activists in Goa have been arguing that Nadia's death is not a case of simple suicide. The police now agree - it believes that her suicide could have been forced. In court, the prosecution said that Pacheco spent a fair amount of time with Nadia on May 13 and 14. She consumed the rat poison on the 15th. Pacheco was interrogated for nine hours on Friday. He resigned on Saturday and did not show up for a second round of questioning scheduled by the police. Since then, he has been missing, with the Goa police insisting it has no information on where he might be. That surprises many who point out that Pacheco, a man of local prominence, is easily identifiable. http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/goa-death-nadias-family-denies-pacheco-bribed-them-30929.php
