Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar claimed there is no question of political revenge of any kind in investigations into the Louis Berger bribery case and that Crime Branch has cracked it.
“I am happy to say that Crime Branch has cracked the case and are now investigating all those involved in the scam,” Parsekar said on Saturday, during his Independence Day address in Panjim.
Defending his stand in refusing to transfer the case to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Parsekar said, “I had said that I would give the case to CBI but for the only reason that CBI has longer reach as compared to Goa Police which is limited. But to give the case to CBI, we had needed to give preliminary reports and therefore the case was given to Crime Branch and they have successfully investigated it.”
Commenting on the allegations raised by the Opposition of political revenge being taken by the government, Parsekar said, “I want to tell people that in this matter, there is no intention of our party to take any kind of political revenge. I have even stopped intervening in the matter now. Whoever might have done corruption and bribery, even if they pressurise us, our government will be firm on our decisions, the government will not bow and will not step back at any cost.”
Currently, former PWD minister Churchill Alemao has been arrested by CB in connection with the case, while former chief minister Digambar Kamat has moved for anticipatory bail.
