Team Herald
PANJIM: Ahead of the Supreme Court hearing into Crime Branch’s (CB) application seeking the quashing of the anticipatory bail granted to former chief minister Digambar Kamat, an expert committee has ascertained charges against him, former PWD minister Churchill Alemao and other accused involved in the Louis Berger (LB) bribery case.
The 1000-odd page report on the JICA technical bid evaluation and contract, submitted to CB on Friday, has detailed the alleged crime of each accused at the time of granting the consultation contract to LB.
Sources said the report strengthens charges against the accused and this will be produced before the SC during the hearing challenging Kamat’s anticipatory bail on December 8. “Various documents and related evidence have been attached with it,” an officer said.
The committee headed by Vigilance Officer Srikrishnan pointed out to Kamat’s alleged wrongdoings despite his claim that he had no role to play in the consultancy.
The Margao MLA had also rubbished allegations of corruption against him contrary to revelations by sacked JICA project director Anand Wachasundar.
The officer, in his statement before a judicial magistrate, had claimed that Kamat didn’t want Alemao to be the lone beneficiary of the bribe amount.
Identified as ‘suspect’ and ‘prime conspirator’ in the chargesheet filed against seven accused, Kamat had also asked Wachasundar to pass this information to the JICA project consultants. The alleged payment of bribe at the CM’s official residence, Altinho and at his house at Margao was also mentioned.
