By IANS,
Panaji: Goa Tourism Minister Mickky Pacheco was once again arrested and released by the Crime Branch Wednesday, this time in a case of threatening and criminal intimidation, police said.
Pacheco, a National Congress Party (NCP) legislator, against whom this is the fifth criminal case booked in the last few years, was arrested this morning after he drove to the Crime Branch from the Secretariat, where he had addressed a press conference.
He was released on a personal bond and after he produced a local surety, Superintendent of Police Atmaram Deshpande told reporters.
The latest case was filed by the management of Update Gaming Private Limited, which operates Treasures casino at the Majorda beach resort in south Goa, on June 19 at the Colva police station.
Update Gaming officials had submitted CCTV footage that showed the minister allegedly grabbing the throats of casino dealers and threatening them.
The complaint was later transferred to the Crime Branch for investigation.
On Tuesday, Pacheco was arrested on an extortion complaint filed by the same casino operator. The minister allegedly extorted Rs.3.69 lakh from the casino dealers June 1.
When contacted for his reactions to the tourism minister’s arrest, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said: “I cannot say anything. No comment.”
Asked about a cabinet minister’s arrest twice in two days on serious charges, all Kamat would say was: “So what?”