Panaji:
Goa Tourism Minister Fransisco Pacheco, who was asked by police not to leave the state after his name was linked to the death of a woman, has accused the police of "witch-hunting".
The NCP minister in the Congress-led government shot off a letter to Chief Minister Digamber Kamat complaining of witch-hunting and police harassment.
"I am writing this letter to complaint about the witch-hunt, which the Goa Police has indulged in to unnecessarily harass me and my family," Pacheco said.
The minister had been summoned by police in connection with the death of 28-year-old Nadia Torrado, whom he had described as "a good family friend and a close friend".
Nadia had died on May 30 at a Chennai hospital after allegedly consuming rat poison. Women's organisations had alleged involvement of Pacheco in her death.
"Despite the fact that Nadia's entire family, including her husband, have time and again given statements before various authorities, including the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, that she accidentally consumed poison and they do not hold anyone responsible for her death, the police have been witch-hunting and traumatising the family," he said in the letter.
Demanding a judicial probe into her death, Pacheco said he has lost faith in uprightness of Goa Police.
"It is evident that police is acting at the instance of some vested interests in the government who have been always inimical to me," Pacheco, who had been in the past accused of threatening a casino operator, said.
The minister, in the letter, has also demanded a judicial probe into excise and drugs scam, which hit the state recently.
Meanwhile, Goa Police have served orders on Nadia's family and Pacheco, asking them not to leave the state till further orders.
According to police, summons had been served on Pacheco, but he has not yet responded.