PANJIM: Former chief minister Digambar Kamat has challenged Crime Branch’s (CB) allegation about concealing the missing JICA project file calling it a bogus move against him.
On day two of arguments on CB’s plea challenging the anticipatory bail to Kamat before the High Court of Bombay at Goa, defence counsel Surendra Desai charged the investigation agency of slapping a false case against the sitting MLA.
“The charge of missing file is bogus… There is no witness till date to mention about missing of any noting file,” Desai told the single bench of C V Bhadang during a two-hour long argument on Wednesday.
Besides charging Kamat with corruption in the Louis Berger bribery case, CB has accused him of concealing the crucial file concerning the appointment of JICA project management consultant.
Desai informed the bench that Kamat was in London for about 20 days till his return on July 19 or 20. While at Mumbai airport on his return from the foreign trip, one of his friends had informed him about reports on the scam. “It was on his lawyer’s advice that he (Kamat) thereafter moved an RTI application seeking the concerned files to verify where exactly was he involved in the offence, as accused by CB,” the counsel said.
CB’s contention that it requires Kamat in custody to recover the bribe amount was also rubbished with Desai claiming that the entire case is a political gimmick.
Before concluding argument for the day, Desai claimed that the case is a political vendetta against Kamat. He also referred to news reports where Union defence minister Manohar Parrikar had commented on the scam. Arguments will continue on Thursday.
