Goa Police ‘crack’ Louis Berger bribery case; quiz ex-Min Alemao

Goa Police on Tuesday claimed to have cracked the Louis Berger bribery case and established the money trail as it quizzed former PWD Minister Churchill Alemao whose name has cropped up in the scandal. Crime Branch, probing the case, said they have managed to track the route through which the bribe money was brought to India. Police also issued <g data-gr-id="30">summons</g> to former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, during whose tenure the scandal involving Louis Berger, a US consultancy firm, took place. 

“We have been able to find out exactly how the money was brought to India and how much was brought,” a senior Crime Branch official said declining to divulge more detail.

Crime Branch has already arrested A Wachasunder, a senior official who headed the controversial JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) water project in Goa that is at the centre of the pay off <g data-gr-id="27">case</g>. Earlier on Tuesday, police quizzed Alemao in connection with the case. Tenders for the project were issued when PWD was under Alemao.

Kamat, who was asked by Crime Branch to appear before it this evening, told PTI he was yet to receive summons. Since the Congress leader is an MLA and the House is in session, the summons was routed through the Assembly Speaker. Crime Branch officials said they have cracked the case and would seek issuance of a letter rogatory (<g data-gr-id="22">LoR</g>) to procure certain documents related the case from the US.

“We are investigating the case. There are some documents that would be procured through US Court. We have requested Goa Court to issue the letter (<g data-gr-id="21">LoR</g>) so that these documents can be obtained,” the police official said.  Alemao cooperated during the questioning, another official said but declined to disclose whether he will be called again.