Team Herald
PORVORIM: The State government has prima facie ruled out the involvement of any of its officials in the alleged bribery charges leveled by officials of the US-based CD Smith Company even though it has asked Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma to initiate an inquiry into the allegations.
Speaking to media persons, Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Ramakrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar said he has completed the preliminary study into the allegations and has submitted the report to the Chief Secretary, who after discussion with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar will take necessary action.
“Prima facie, I don’t think that our officers are involved in the bribery matter,” he said adding that in June 2016, the government had terminated the sewerage contract with the company and had attached Rs 5 lakh security deposit and Rs 13 lakh performance guarantee. “The company had failed to complete the project awarded to them in 2015 and hence we terminated their service,” the Minister said.
Dhavalikar said the company was involved in the national highway project in 2008-09 and wanted to continue it but the BJP government in 2012 turned down the proposal.
“Now let the Chief Minister decide whether to initiate inquiry and if there is need to register a case against anyone,” he stated.
The US Justice Department had recently said that the US company, through its employees and agents, and those of its subsidiary in India (CDM India), paid approximately USD 1.18 million (about Rs 6.7 crore) in bribes to government officials in India. In addition, CDM Smith’s division responsible for India and CDM India paid USD 25,000 to local officials in Goa in relation to a water project contract, it said.
