PANJIM: Stating that the government will leave no stone unturned to punish the guilty as per the law, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Monday assured the House that investigations into the Louis Berger bribery case would be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The Chief Minister also said that the investigations will have no impact on the ongoing JICA and Mopa airport projects in which Louis Berger was the consultant.
“All the accused involved in this scam would be punished. State government will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the guilty are punished,” Parsekar said. “I agree to the demand of my legislative colleagues and assure to hand over the case to CBI. I will request CBI to take over the investigation,” Parsekar said, responding to the special discussion on the Louis Berger bribery case that was called by BJP MLAs.
“At the same time, I will make sure that investigations have no impact on ongoing JICA and Mopa projects. The work will continue in full swing,” he added.
The US company has admitted before a US court to paying a minister a bribe to win the consultancy for a water augmentation and sewerage line project in Goa. Currently, the State Crime Branch is investigating the case.
“I was stunned to read the news from Washington PTI. Initially I had thought that I would hand over the inquiry to CBI as it is having international ramifications. But since the offence has happened in Goa, I thought it wise to have Crime Branch inquire into it,” Parsekar said.
“I will be the happiest person if I could punish the guilty during my tenure as a chief minister. We would inquire into all the projects, which had this company as a consultant,” Parsekar said.
Pointing to the former Congress government’s sea-link project, he said the company was paid Rs 4.75 crore just to certify that the project was not feasible. Parsekar took a dig at the former Congress-led government for indulging in corruption at all levels. “I will really appreciate then Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, who went for this project despite we (then Opposition) shouting that the project is not feasible for the State,” he said.
Earlier, the Ruling benches joined forces to corner the Opposition Congress over the scam, with MLAs Siddharth Kuncolienkar, Ganesh Gaonkar and Pramod Sawant demanding a special discussion.
“Louis Berger Company was given consultancy by former Congress-led government. We demand that an inquiry be conducted in all the dealings of this US-based company. We want the government to hand over the case to CBI,” Kuncolienkar said, initiating the discussion.
The Panjim MLA said Goa’s name has been defamed internationally after the bribery scam came to light. “I know Crime Branch has already initiated an inquiry into the incident. But we feel the inquiry through Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should be conducted as this is an international scam,” he said.
Another BJP MLA, Vishnu Surya Wagh, alleged that the US-based company has also worked as the consultant for the sea-link project, connecting Vasco to Dona Paula. “This company was paid crores of rupees only to certify that the sea-link is not feasible. Why did Congress require Louis Berger to certify it?” he asked. He said that Congress MLAs boycotted the session, as they were aware that the scam, involving their government, would be discussed and exposed.
Except for Congress MLA Mauvin Godinho, all other Congress MLAs were absent during the discussion having walked out from the House earlier in the day. Most of the BJP, MGP and GVP MLAs participated in the discussion.
BOX
I have no faith in govt, says Caitu
PANJIM: Slamming the State government for its failure to act against former ministers involved in various scams, Goa Vikas Party (GVP) legislator Caetano Silva on Monday said he has no faith the BJP government will get justice in the Louis Berger bribery scam.
“I have no faith in government. I don’t have trust that justice would be done in the Louis Berger case,” Silva said.
“Just like other corruption cases, including the illegal mining case, this time too government will not act. Government has just registered cases but has not acted upon… the corrupts are not been booked,” the MLA said.
Alleging match fixing between the government and the Opposition, the MLA challenged Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar to take the Louis Berger case to its logical end. “Let us set an example before the youth that politics is not making money or looting the State. We need to prove that justice is done,” he demanded.
