Louis Berger graft: Bribe was paid, says Goa Police

The Goa Police on Wednesday said prima facie it has come to light that “bribe was paid” by a US firm for a water developmental project in the state. “The instance of corruption has been proved in this case through <g data-gr-id="23">judgement</g> of the US court. There is no doubt that bribe was paid,” Inspector General of Police Sunil Garg said after the state Crime Branch filed an FIR against an unidentified minister and officials of US-based company Louis Berger under Anti-Corruption Act on Tuesday.

When asked if the First Information Report (FIR) was against one minister or more, Garg said: “It is some minister or it can be ministers too.”  The investigations are currently at <g data-gr-id="19">preliminary</g> stage, but the FIR was filed after going through the documents, including a judgement of the US court, he said.

Preliminary reports of the inquiry are ready and “now police will start summoning and questioning various people,” the IG said.

“Summons would be issued to whoever is connected with the case. We will put in our best efforts to investigate this case and for which we will even take the help of Interpol or the Ministry of External Affairs,” the top cop said.