PANJIM: The Union Home Ministry has given the State government permission to move the local court to issue letter rogatory to a court in New Jersey to obtain the deposition copy of Louis Berger’s former executive James McClung’s who had confessed of paying bribe in Goa.

The Crime Branch (CB) through the government had approached the ministry this month seeking its clearance to obtain McClung’s statement and case related documents from the US-firm through the US court. While sources confirm the development, the CB is yet to receive written communiqué about the approval till going to the press.

The CB will certainly heave a sigh of relief as it had been relying on this crucial statement of the Dubai national, who along with Philippine-based Richard Hirsch had confessed of bribing Goa officials and a politician to get JICA project in 2010.

With this, the CB may delay issuing red corner notice against him, which it contemplated since McClung has failed to respond to its summons. “When we get his statement, we will decide… until then, routine procedures will follow,” an officer said.

Meanwhile, JICA surveyor Udaykumar Mandewalkar, who has been charged under Section 201 of the IPC for destruction of evidence, has confessed in his statement under Section 164 CrPC that MMC Chairperson Arthur D’Silva compelled him to manipulate the RTI response in favour of former chief minister Digambar Kamat.

Sources said that Arthur compelled him to furnish false information regarding the file with notings concerning/relating to appointment of project management consultant for the JICA project, on August 10 to facilitate Kamat to produce it in the special court during arguments on anticipatory bail application. The first reply was prepared by former JICA project director Anand Wachasundar, three days before his arrest on July 27.

Mandewalkar becomes the seventh person whose statement has been recorded before judicial magistrate.