Former Goa CM, former Minister summoned by Crime Branch in Louis Berger bribery scandal

Former Director of the JICA water project, A. M. Wachasundar has been already arrested on Monday by the Crime Branch.

July 28, 2015 11:32 am | Updated April 01, 2016 04:24 pm IST - Panaji

Panaji Former Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat of the Congress and Mr. Churchill Alemao, his former Cabinet colleague in the Congress-led erstwhile alliance government have been summoned by Crime Branch of Goa police to be present for interrogation on Tuesday in the Louis Berger bribe scandal.

Following the revelation of Mr. Kamat and Mr. Alemao being named as bribe-takers by two former officials of Louis Berger, the Crime Branch, on Monday evening, issued the summons to both the politicians. Mr. Alemao has been asked to be present at Crime Branch office near here at 11 on Tuesday.

The Crime Branch swung into action on Monday and two former officials of Louis Berger — one former regional manager and one area manager — who were brought to Goa. They gave a sworn statement before a Judicial Magistrate First Class here as witnesses, naming the two former Ministers to whom they allegedly paid bribes for the consultancy contract of JICA (Japan International cooperation Agency) water supply and sewerage project.

In their statements, officials have allegedly revealed that the hawala money was routed through New Jersey, Dubai and Gurgaon to Goa through an agent called Soni. Crime Branch sources said that they have been able to establish that around four crores were transferred to Goa and given to the two then Ministers in the form of bribes.

Former Director of the JICA water project A. M. Wachasundar has been already arrested on Monday by the Crime Branch following termination of his contract earlier by the government to have a fair and free probe.

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