Amid bribery furore, illegal mining case against Kamat wound up

Also, the investigation is closing in on former Chief Minister Digmabar Kamat, who headed the previous Congress-led ministry.

Based on this corroborative evidence, the police have succeeded today in getting police custody of Alemao by three more days, after arresting him on 5 August.

Panaji: Suspected hawala operator Raychand Soni, one of the accused in the Louis Berger bribery case was also allegedly funding a few casinos in Goa, the Crime Branch told a court here. The magistrate has recorded Wachasunder’s statement under section 164 of CrPC.

Sardesai said that Soni revealed before the magistrate that his friend Prasanna Shah asked him to give money to Jindal in Goa and subsequently, money was made available through his office staff. There was no hawala transaction as the money was withdrawn from the personal account and given to Jindal.

“I have paid huge amount to Shah in instalments which I got back…The crime branch has no evidence of hawala transactions because I am not into this illegal business”, Soni’s lawyer submitted.

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has ordered an inquiry into infrastructure contracts allotted to Louis Berger, the US-based construction management firm facing bribery charges to win projects in Goa and Assam.

He said linking Alemao with the missing PWD file had no basis as the Crime Branch had mentioned the same reason while arguing against the anticipatory bail plea filed by another person (former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat).

Keeping aside other occasions of having paid bribes to both the heavyweight politicians, the investigating authorities have fully concentrated on submissions of two ex-employees of Louis Berger and the hawala operator. Alemao was arrested by the Crime Branch last week in connection with the case. His plea for anticipatory bail comes up for hearing on Wednesday.

The Indian set-up of the New Jersey-based PMC, was under scrutiny for reportedly paying bribes to secure water and sewerage projects in Assam and Goa, and now Maharashtra becomes the third state.

The Crime Branch, which has arrested four people including Wachasunder, is now searching for a crucial files pertaining to award of the consultancy work.