MARGAO
Former Minister Mickky Pacheco and Colva resident Mathew Diniz will have to stand trial in the Majorda casino case as the revision petition filed by Diniz against the order of the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao, to frame charges against the duo did not find favour with the South Goa Sessions Court.
In fact, with the Additional Sessions Court dismissing the petition filed by Mathew Diniz on Tuesday, decks have been cleared for the formal framing of charges against Mickky and Mathew before the
JMFC, Margao.
JMFC Margao Ashwini Khandolkar had on June 5 last ordered framing of charges against Mickky and Mathew under section 141, 142, 143, 448, 384, 506 read with 149 of the IPC.
Incidentally, while the Mickky-Mathew duo was discharged by the JMFC, Margao, in the Majorda casino case in respect of the complaint lodged by Capt Gerard Fernadnes on December 7, 2015, the duo’s application for discharge in a similar but different complaint filed by Ashok Kumar Rao did not find favour with the court.
In this case, a retired Indian Air force Junior Commissioned Officer Ashok Kumar Rao at Majorda casino had complained that on May 30-31, 2009, that Mathew and Mickky, accompanied by 10 persons entered the
casino without purchasing any tickets.
“Some of the 10 persons were the same who had come on the previous night. Mathew and Mickky started to play at one of the roulette tables, while the other persons were hanging around the place,” Rao had complained.
The complaint further stated that during the time they were playing at the roulette table, Mickky placed a plastic bag said to contain currency notes.
When he was told that he cannot bet with currency notes unless they were exchanged into casino chips, he refused to listen and demanded that they accept the currency as a bet. He intimidated the dealers to spin the roulette which was done under duress.
Pacheco claimed that he had won and forced the dealers to pay him an amount of Rs 3.69 lakh. Being under fear and threats, the dealers paid him the amount demanded. Immediately on receiving the money, the entire party left the casino clapping and celebrating their victory.
