Search warrant for defence minister's house in Delhi

Panaji, April 22: A Goa trial court on Wednesday issued a search warrant for Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's official residence in Delhi for former archives and archaeology minister Francisco Pacheco, who has been reported missing for a fortnight.

The trial court was conducting proceedings related to the formal arrest of Pacheco, whose conviction for an assault was upheld by the Supreme Court earlier this month. Pacheco has been missing for over two weeks now.

The search warrant directs the police to search Parrikar's official residence in Delhi, to trace Pacheco, after the petitioner, a lawyer-activist Aires Rodrigues, told the trial court that Pacheco was seen in the vicinity of 10, Akbar Road in New Delhi.

Pacheco, who faces six months' imprisonment and a fine of Rs.1,500 for assaulting a junior engineer of the state electricity department in 2006, has been 'missing' ever since the Supreme Court upheld his conviction earlier this month.

The search warrant for 10, Akbar Road, New Delhi, along with a fresh arrest warrant to be served on Pacheco, was issued by Judicial Magistrate First Class Bosco Roberts in Margao, located 35 km from here.

IANS