Judge recuses from hearing Pacheco plea

Pachecos plea was scheduled for hearing Friday morning,but Judge Nelson Britto recused himself from the case when it came up before him,without giving any reason.

The matter will now be put before the Chief Justice of Bombay High Court to be assigned to another bench.

In his petition,Pacheco had claimed that if arrested,police would subject him to third degree torture and harass him to extract confession.

He also claimed the allegations against him were politically motivated.

The petitioner will not receive fair treatment from the investigating agency. The investigation so far has been one sided and directed against the petitioner in order to fix him at any cost,by hook or crook, the plea said.

Crime Branch,which is investigating the case,has accused the former minister of abetting Torrados suicide and then destroying evidence.

Pacheco,however,claimed he was being suspected as he was a close friend of Torrado.

Police have recorded the statement of Nadia8230;She has not involved the petitioner in any manner. Her statement is admissible and has a force of a dying declaration, the plea said.