US bribery case: Parrikar, Goa CM seek CBI probe

He too hinted at a CBI probe, saying he would approach the PM soon.

A New Jersey-based construction management firm has been charged with bribing Indian officials several million of rupees to win two major water developmental projects in Goa and in Guwahati.

The incident occurred in 2010 when Digambar Kamat was heading the Congress-led government in Goa. “The company paid bribes to win both of these contracts”, federal prosecutors alleged.

The shoddy implementation of the JICA project by the implementing agencies was exposed in a CAG report tabled in the state legislative assembly previous year. “It should now be revealed which minister took the bribe”. “Therefore, the then PWD minister may be involved; and since the project also deals with financial approval, there is likelihood of another minister’s involvement”, Parrikar said while addressing a meeting of party workers in Margao. “An inquiry by CBI into the entire episode will reveal the truth behind the bribery”, Parrikar said.

Louis Berger is alleged to have paid a bribe of $976,630 (Rs 6.2 crore) for the Goa project, with some of the money apparently going to a minister, the USA justice department has said without revealing details.

Two former executives of the company – Richard Hirsch, 61, of Philippines, and James McClung, 59, of the UAE – have pleaded guilty to the bribery charges.

The Indian government, in association with the Japanese government, has started the rehabilitation projects in due to the extension of water supply and sewerage projects in Goa.

The staff developed a project administration info system and plan, evaluated bids, reviewed design and development plans, and ensured high quality work was accomplished on time and inside finances, the corporate says on its web site.

“Once estimates are drawn there is no possibility of any minister interfering in it”, he said. The consortium included two Japanese companies and an Indian companion.

Yesterday, the corporate agreed to pay United States dollars 17.1 million felony positive to resolve fees that it bribed officers in India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Kuwait to safe authorities development administration contracts.

Federal prosecutors, in their 11-page chargesheet, said Louis Berger maintained a detailed diary and account of bribes paid to Indian officials.