By IANS,
Panaji : Goa Tourism Minister Francisco alias Mickky Pacheco has joined his cabinet colleague Atanasio Monserrate in being accused of faking his academic qualifications.
Acting on a complaint filed by panchayat (village administration) member Calbert Gonsalves, the returning officer of the Benaulim constituency has issued notices to Pacheco, asking him to present himself Feb 26 for an enquiry.
The complainant, who hails from the Benaulim constituency, which the Nationalist Congress Party’s Pacheco represents, has alleged that the legislator had faked his educational qualifications in two affidavits filed during the 2005 assembly polls and the 2007 general elections.
“In one affidavit, Mickky has said that he has passed Class 10, while in the 2007 affidavit, the tourism minister has said that he has failed to pass Class 6,” complainant Gonsalves told IANS.
The notice served by returning officer states that the NCP legislator should appear for a hearing Feb 26, failing which the case would be heard and determined in his absence.
When contacted Saturday, Pacheco said he would provide the details before the appropriate authority.
“The returning officer cannot hear the matter. He is not the correct authority. I have no problem putting forth my stand before a proper forum,” Pacheco said.
Pacheco has been in the eye of controversy for several months now.
He had created a political storm by filing a disqualification petition against a fellow cabinet minister and was later fending off allegations of bigamy and physical harassment leveled against him by his wife Sara Pacheco.