Mumbai: An officer accused in the million-dollar Goa bribery case has agreed to testify against former Congress Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and minister Churchill Alemao, police sources have said.
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The police have told the court that it was “evident and amply clear that Mr Kamat and Mr Alemao favoured Louis Berger for monetary gains by abusing their position… obtained… pecuniary advantage and caused massive loss to Goa”.
The controversy around Louis Berger erupted in July after company executives admitted in a US court that bribes were paid to top Indian government officials to win projects in Goa and Guwahati.
The prosecution also pointed out to his confessional statement recorded before a judicial magistrate under section 164 of CrPC that he paid Rs 1.75 crore to ex-Louis Berger employees in 2009-11 at his shop in Panaji through hawala transactions.
It is to be seen whether the special court at Panaji, headed by judge B P Deshpande, delivers two different judgements and releases Kamat while extending Alemao’s police custody.
“Crime Branch is moving in the right direction in the case”.
Senior lawyer and Alemao’s counsel Ashok Mundargi, however, rubbished the charges against his client.
Also, opposing his anticipatory bail plea, the Crime Branch described Kamat as a “habitual offender involved in corrupt practices” and alleged he had “actively participated” in the conspiracy and was among the beneficiaries in the Louis Berger bribery case. His plea for anticipatory bail comes up for hearing on Wednesday.
In its submission before the court, the Crime Branch had said that former officials of the US firm had allegedly paid Rs 50-60 lakhs each as bribe to Kamat, who was the chief minister between 2007 and 2012, and Alemao, the then PWD Minister.
The Crime Branch, which has arrested four people including Wachasunder, is now searching for a crucial files pertaining to award of the consultancy work.
Wachasunder has applied for the bail, and the arguments on it are being heard in the court today.
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Crime branch officials confirmed that Kamat has been summoned at noon at their office in Ribander, 10 kms away from here, and is likely to be quizzed in connection with the case.
