PANJIM: The Goa government late Saturday sacked JICA project director A Wachasundar. He is the first person against whom any action has been taken by the authorities in the Louis Berger bribery case that came to light last Monday.
“The suspension is based on the preliminary enquiry report made by Crime Branch. The investigation is still in progress,” Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said.
There were strong rumours on Saturday evening that Wachasundar could possibly face arrest, but these were mere speculations. He was, however quizzed by Crime Branch.
JICA officials were being interrogated by Crime Branch since early Saturday morning. The government was under immense pressure from the BJP itself as well as sections of the Congress to show some results in the bribery case.
US-based consultancy company Louis Berger has admitted to a New Jersey court to having bribed Indian officials, including a Goa minister to win a
consultancy water project in the State under the Japanese funding initiative.
An FIR has been registered under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against an unknown former Goa minister and Louis Berger officials.
On Monday Parsekar had directed Crime Branch to carry out a preliminary probe into the bribery scandal and submit a report.
