This Article is From Jul 28, 2015

As Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat Took Bribe, Say Louis Berger Officials

As Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat Took Bribe, Say Louis Berger Officials
Mumbai: As Chief Minister of Goa, Digambar Kamat  of the Congress accepted a bribe from a US firm  in 2010, executives from the company  have testified for a Goa magistrate, according to police sources.

Churchill Alemao, another Congressman who was the Public Works Minister was reportedly named as the second recipient of a nearly million dollar kickback paid by a firm named Louis Berger that was hired as a consultant for a large water and sewage project.

A pair of executives from Louis Berger testified for a magistrate on Monday and named the two leaders, sources told NDTV.  They had been summoned by the Goa Crime Branch, which is investigating the case.

Mr Kamat was to be interrogated this evening.  Mr Alameo, another senior Congress leader, has already been questioned about the accusations and denied any wrongdoing.

The Congress lost the election in Goa in 2012 to the BJP, which now governs the state.

The controversy around Louis Berger erupted earlier this month with the report that the firm had admitted in a US court to paying bribes to top indian government officials to win projects in Goa and Guwahati.  The company agreed to pay a fine of nearly 17 million dollars for kickbacks paid in countries including India.

Louis Berger was part of a consortium for the Goa project.
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