21 Jul 2015 | 02:02am IST
Union Ministry seeks report on Louis Berger bribery scam from Goa
Parsekar calls for review of Mopa and sea-link projects; Crime Branch asked to submit preliminary inquiry report in two days; report from JICA project director sought by Tuesday
Team Herald
PANJIM: Union Minister for Urban Development Venkaiah Naidu has sought a detailed report on the bribery scam involving US-based consultancy firm Louis Berger that has admitted paying a bribe to a Goa minister to secure a contract under JICA (Japan International Corporation Agency).
Directing Crime Branch to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the case, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Monday said he would review the ongoing international airport at Mopa and the stalled sea-link project, whose technical feasibility reports were prepared by Louis Berger.
Speaking to media persons late Monday evening, Parsekar admitted receiving a call from Naidu. “I have directed JICA project director to submit all the information on the project and have also asked Crime Branch to conduct a preliminary inquiry and submit a report in two days,” he said.
“Not just JICA projects, but I will review all the projects involving the consultancy firm, including Mopa airport and the Dona Paula to Vasco sea-link,” the chief minister said pointing that in the case of Mopa around Rs 14 crore have been paid to the firm while for the sea-link project, which never kicked off, Rs 4.5 crore were paid for the feasibility report.
Defending his decision to seek a Crime Branch investigation in the matter, Parsekar said, “The alleged scam case is registered in a US court. It was first advisable to seek CBI investigation. Then I realized that to seek a CBI investigation before the prime minister I will have to present a case.”
The chief minister faced criticism from the opposition after he decided to investigate the scam through Crime Branch and not CBI. Parsekar had earlier announced he would hand over the matter to CBI.
Indirectly defending the controversial company, Parsekar said it is a reputed company with a few of its officials being mired in corruption. “As per my understanding, the company is world famous and is a reputed firm. Yes there are some people involved in corruption but all that needs to be exposed,” he said.
The chief minister said that as per the case filed in the US court, the name of the minister involved in the bribe is mentioned along with all the others.
