PANJIM: The Enforcement
Directorate Goa has confiscated properties of former chief ministers Digambar
Kamat and Churchill Alemao, both of whom are implicated in the infamous
multi-crore Louis Berger bribery scam.
The investigating officials,
following authorization from the Central government, has attached movable and
immovable properties worth Rs 1.95 crores belonging to both senior politicians,
who are re-elected to the legislative assembly in the recently held 2017 polls.
As per the data shared by ED
Joint Director Pravin Pawar, Kamat’s assets include 4047 sq feet plot at Gogol,
Margao; residential building at Taleigao and Rs 41.35 lakh fixed deposits; all
of which adds up to a total of Rs 1.20 crore whereas Alemao-owned eight
apartments in Varca amounting to Rs 75 lakh as per the Registered Sale value in
2009 year are seized.
“These properties were
attached at the time of inquiry and now with an official nod from the Centre,
these properties are confiscated for a period of 180 days under the Prevention
of Money Laundering Act 2002. It can remain with the ED for a longer period,”
an official told Herald. If convicted, the entire seized properties and assets will
be handed over to the Centre, he added.
The ED has investigated the
financial trail of the proceeds of crime obtained by the alleged accused in the
case. The Margao legislator, officials of Louis Berger, Nihon Suido,
Consultants Company Ltd, Japan; NGS Consultants Company Ltd, Japan; Shah
Technical Consultancy Company Ltd, India and other government officials and
hawala operators have been quizzed ever since ED began a probe in 2015 year.
Kamat’s brother-in-law Gaurish Lawande had also come under the radar of the ED.
In a joint raid with the Crime Branch, the ED conducted an extensive search at
Kamat’s residence at Margao, Lawande’s bungalow at Campal and his office in
Panjim, and the Altinho house belonging to Narhar Thakur – Kamat’s son’s
father-in-law.
Former high level executive
at the LB International James McClung and Alemao were amongst seven accused
chargesheeted on September 26, 2015.
Crime branch’s (CB) 482-page
report before the special court charged the company, Alemao, McClung, former
JICA Project Director Anand Wachasunder, LB India’s former vice president
Satyakam Mohanty, alleged hawala operator Raichand Soni and MMC Chairperson
Arthur D’Silva, under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 201 (destruction
of evidence and giving false information) of Indian Penal Code and sections 7,
8, 9 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The voluminous document
named Kamat as ‘suspect’ and ‘main criminal conspirator’ while also charging
him with accepting illegal gratification of Rs 1.95 crore cash from the
US-based firm for JICA consultancy work. The legislator has escaped arrest with
CB’s application challenging his anticipatory plea pending in the SC till date.
A supplementary chargesheet was filed against him in October 2016.
On July 21,
2015 the CB registered first information report (FIR) against ‘some ministers’ in
the Goa government in the year 2010 and the New Jersey-based construction
management firm in JICA-funded water project.
