Mr Kamat was asked by the Crime Branch to appear before the investigators
Former Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat (Photo: Youtube)
Panaji: Taking forward its probe in the pay off case, involving US firm Louis Berger, the Goa Police on Tuesday issued summons to former chief minister Digambar Kamat, who headed the previous Congress ministry, and quizzed the then public works minister Churchill Alemao.
Mr Kamat was asked by the Crime Branch to appear before the investigators this evening for questioning in connection with the case which came to light after the US firm’s disclosure in a court there.
Besides heading the Congress government, Mr Kamat was also holding the finance portfolio in 2010 when officials of the US company allegedly doled out bribes to win consultancy for a Japan-funded water augmentation and sewerage project in the state.
Since Mr Kamat is an MLA and the House is in Session, the summons were routed through the Speaker of the state Assembly. “Summons have been issued to Kamat through Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly (Rajendra Arlekar) to appear before the Crime Branch at 4 PM as the Assembly is in session,” Superintendent of Police (CB) Kartik Kashyap told PTI.
Earlier in the day, Alemao appeared before the Crime Branch at Ribander for questioning in the case after summons were issued to him. Tenders for the project, executed under JICA were issued when PWD was under Alemao.
Officials of New Jersey-based Louis Berger, in a submission before a US court, had admitted paying bribe to an Indian ‘minister’ to win consultancy. The Rs 1031-crore project was approved by the Kamat government.
The Crime Branch has already arrested JICA Goa project director A Wachasunder, and has charged him under Section 120 (B) of the IPC.
( Source : PTI )
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