ED, Crime Branch raid Kamat, kins’ premises

Besides Margao, raids in Panaji were conducted above Vinanti restaurant, opposite Mum’s Kitchen restaurant at Campal, Alfran Plaza as well as at Altinho residence. “Summons will be issued to the people concerned shortly after the completion of the scrutiny of the documents”, an ED spokesperson said. The file has notings which were used to award the consultancy to US-based firm Louis Berger for a project funded by the Japan global Cooperation Agency (JICA). The crime branch is likely to challenge the bail in the High Court on Thursday.

The court had granted bail on technical grounds, stating that the investigating officer had not spelt out reasons as to what was the need to arrest him, especially as Mr Kamat was not a flight risk and was appearing before the police for questioning.

According to the police official, the searches were being conducted at four different places in Margao and Panaji towns. Meanwhile, former state Public Works Department Minister Churchill Alemao, who was arrested in connection with the case, has moved a fresh bail application before district court which is expected to be heard later today.

A M Wachasundar, the suspended project director, is still in the judicial lock up, along with Alemao.

While crime branch deals with the criminal angle of the case, the ED deals with the financial matters.

In its application, the crime branch has pointed out that witnesses have recorded their statements before the magistrate and that they have stated that the accused was paid the bribe amount. 1 crore in bribes in multiple instalments, including one at the official residence of the chief minister, to allot the consultancy project to Louis Berger in 2010 when he was heading a Congress-led coalition government.