PANJIM: What led to ex-PWD minister Churchill Alemao’s arrest is a crucial file on JICA project that has gone missing for several months and still remains untraceable by the Crime Branch (CB).
Interestingly, the file – having his notes on the Japanese-funded project – has resulted in a major verbal dual between the then chief minister Digambar Kamat and Alemao. Anand Wachasundar, the first arrested accused in the case was a witness to this heated argument.
Sources said Alemao’s arrest late on Wednesday night came after he refused to divulge the whereabouts of the missing file during his questioning on July 28-29. This was also the main contention of the prosecution’s argument before the District and Sessions Court to seek his custodial interrogation.
“Alemao kept the JICA file pending with him without justifiable reasons. Hence, the then chief secretary J P Singh sent reminders to Kamat to look into the matter,” the prosecution led by Prasad Kirtani submitted to the court, adding, that according to Wachasundar’s deposition he (i.e. Wachasundar) along with then Finance Secretary Udipta Rai’s officials witnessed the quarrel between Kamat and Alemao over the project at the chief minister’s official residence at Altinho.
The prosecution reply further mentioned that Alemao did not want the project as he had a proposal of German funds for some German company. However, since JICA was giving a loan at a very low interest rate, the then government had rejected his proposal that fuelled the anger. “…JICA funds were also regulated as per JICA guidelines and not CPWD guidelines which were a major hurdle to the then PWD minister since he could not manipulate documents and process tenders as per his will,” it stated.
Going against the government decision, Alemao had then moved a note forming different committees as per his choice and declaring himself the chairman.
“He did not cooperate with the investigation team by stating that these are technical issues. We were not satisfied, thus forcing us to arrest him,” a senior official said.
In the wee hours of Thursday, Alemao was brought to the CB amidst tight security and questioned for nearly five hours. After initial reluctance, he agreed to get himself medically examined at the Goa Medical College and Hospital.
His consulting lawyer, Mike Mehta had told reporters that the case “is politically motivated” to blemish his image even as the politician anticipated his arrest. All laws have been kept on the shelf. He went on to add that his client’s arrest will give him political mileage. “Alemao has got a big history of political work and arresting him is nothing but a political rivalry. How can he be picked up at this time of the night without proper summons? It is not only inhuman but also against the law,” he told journalists adding, “Alemao is quite happy, cool and calm.”
Speaking to the media on being taken to the GMC, the senior politician echoed his lawyer’s views. “I am innocent. This is a political game. I am happy that they (CB) have arrested me. I have not done anything wrong,” he said.
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Churchill sent to police custody for 4 days
PANJIM: The Principal Sessions Judge B P Deshpande remanded former minister Churchill Alemao to four days police custody, after rejecting the prosecution appeal for 12 days of custodial interrogation.
