PANJIM: Former Public Works Department minister Churchill Alemao, who will complete one month in custody on Saturday, has again pleaded before the High Court of Bombay at Goa that he be granted bail on grounds of parity.
Defense counsel Ashok Mundargi told the court that Crime Branch (CB) violated Section 41 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in his client’s case too and the charges against both – Alemao and former chief minister Digambar Kamat – are identical.
Alemao challenged the special court’s order last month rejecting his bail citing merits of the case while in a separate order granted Kamat anticipatory bail on technical grounds though both former ministers face similar charges as co-accused in the Louis Berger bribery case.
“The grounds are identical,” Mundargi said, adding that the bribery allegation surfaced in 2010 a year after JICA project was accorded to the consortium. “It is a false allegation of bribe against my client,” he said, explaining that a bribe taker will not wait for a year to get his share.
He also pointed out to CB’s contradictory statements seeking Kamat and Alemao’s custody. “The prosecution is giving the same contention that Alemao’s continued custody and Kamat’s custody is required to locate the missing files,” Mundargi added.
The single bench of Justice K L Wadhane adjourned the hearing for the prosecution’s argument on Friday.
Meanwhile, alleged hawala operator Raichand Soni has again knocked on the doors of the court seeking permission to travel to Dubai. In his petition before the High Court, Soni said his presence was needed in Dubai to complete formalities related to his children’s education. The matter will also be heard on Friday.
Former JICA project director Anand Wachasundar’s bail hearing will be heard on Saturday.
