Panaji:
Suspecting that former Goa Minister Fransisco Mikky Pacheco, named accused in the mysterious death of his woman friend, might be feigning illness, police on Tuesday said certificates given by his doctors should be referred to a medical board.
Public Prosecutor Sarojini Sardinha, arguing for Goa Police's crime branch, said during the hearing of the bail petition filed by Pacheco that there was no mention of sickness by the former Tourism Minister before he surrendered to the court.
"Only when he was remanded in judicial custody, he complained of sickness and got admitted in ICU," she said.
Pointed out errors in the medical report submitted by the state-run Hospicio hospital, Sardinha said the accused had refused to allow examination of his blood despite complaining of jaundice, hypertension and urinary tract infection.
The 46-year old NCP leader should be referred to a medical board as the certificates given by doctors from Hospicio hospital were suspicious, the crime branch said.
"Alternatively, medical certificates by doctors should be examined to check their veracity," Sardinha submitted before Additional Sessions judge Pramod Shetye.
The public prosecutor said that having not subjected to custodial interrogation, the bail application by Pacheco after surrendering to the court, is premature.
"There are no changes in circumstances from the time, he was refused anticipatory bail by Supreme court."
Seeking Pacheco's custodial interrogation, Sardinha said more persons could be involved in Nadia's death. "To get out all the facts, we need custodial interrogation of the accused."
After hearing the arguments of Pacheco's lawyer Surendra Desai and Sardinha, the Sessions Court reserved its order till tomorrow.
Pacheco is currently admitted to the Hospicio hospital in Margao where he is undergoing treatment.
The former Minister is accused of abetment to suicide and culpable homicide not amounting to murder in connection with the death of his close friend Nadia, 28, who died after allegedly consuming poison on May 30 in Chennai.