KOCHI: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) has submitted before the Kerala High Court that Sumeet Goyal, managing director of RDS Constructions Limited, which built the Palarivattom flyover, knows who all, including some political leaders, played a vital role in the conspiracy related to the corruption in it.
Opposing the bail plea of Mr Goyal, who is also the first accused in the case, the VACB DySP R. Asok Kumar in a statement told the court that since he presently does a series of construction in and around Kerala, "he was not willing to disclose the channel in which he handed over the bribe to the public servants fearing some troubles from the colossal figures of politics."
"During the period of the custodial interrogation, he had not disclosed their identities and their roles. If he is granted bail, he shall definitely try to hinder the investigation to save the other politically influential accused in this crime," the statement said.
The VACB DySP also told the court that he might share the investigation details to other suspects if he is released on bail now which will hamper the probe. Since he is keeping a good relationship with officials of RBDCK and KITCO, he will be able to tamper with pieces of documentary evidence kept in various government offices.
The VACB also told the court that the bank account details and data seized so far from him are under process and a vast area of investigation lies in that direction. Moreover, most of the witnesses belong to his firm and releasing him at this juncture will enable him to influence them.
The VACB said Mr Goyal claimed that the government asked the contractor to complete the project within 18 months, though the period stipulated in the contract was 24 months.
"This changes the fundamental nature of the contract," he had said. VACB said that his claim is not correct and such a direction was not given to him at any stage of the construction.
It said that the public is deeply aggrieved about the poor condition of the flyover and many agitations are continuing to bring out the corruption.
Mr Goyal has also jeopardised the lives of the innocent general public. Hence a bail to the petitioner, lodged at Muvattupuzha sub-jail at this stage, will send a wrong message, it said.
