Goa death: Nadia Torredo's mother could be arrested today, say sources

Panaji: A Goa court will decide on Thursday whether to grant bail to Mickey Pacheco, the state's former Tourism Minister, who is missing, and has been named the main suspect in the mysterious death of his girlfriend, Nadia Torrado. (Read: Pacheco files for anticipatory bail, says he is innocent)

Now questions are being asked whether Pachecho tried to buy the silence of his companion Nadia's family. The prosecution says her brother was paid Rs 35 lakh.

Sources tell NDTV that the first arrest in the case is expected on Wednesday - Nadia's mother is likely to be arrested for destroying evidence.

In documents filed in a Goa court on Monday, the police said that Nadia's post-mortem report showed that she had been hit by a blunt weapon, and had 11 injuries. Nadia died on May 30 in a Chennai hospital where she had been moved after she allegedly drank rat poison. Her family had offered the baffling explanation, one backed by Pachecho, that Nadia died because she mistakenly used rat poison instead of toothpaste. (Read: 11 injury marks found on body of Goa woman: Police)

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Listing Pacheco as its main suspect, the police added that Nadia's family, along with Pachecho's Officer on Special Duty, Lyndon Monteiro, are also being investigated for playing a role in Nadia's death. (Read: Pacheco named main suspect in Nadia Torredo's death)

Nadia's mobile phone, passport, laptop and the crucial rat poison tube she is alleged to have consumed have disappeared

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Women activists in Goa have been arguing that Nadia's death is not a case of simple suicide. The police now agrees - it believes that she may have been hurt, probably by Pachecho, and that her suicide could have been forced.

Pachecho 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.

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Prosecution's arguments against Pacheco

• Prosecution: Evidence burnt by Mickky and others

• Prosecution: Afternoon and night of May 14, day before Nadia consumed poison, Mickky was with her

• Prosecution: They had dinner together on May 13

• Prosecution: Call details reveal both were constantly in touch on 14/5

• Prosecution: Mickky only person who can say how injuries occurred

• Prosecution: Mother hiding information on her presence and absence

• Prosecution: Nadia's dying declaration perhaps under duress

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