Not one but two former Goa Ministers, along with officials may have received the ‘million dollar’ bribe from US-based consultancy firm louis Berger in 2010 to finalise work tenders for a Rs847 crore Japan Government-funded water and sewerage development project.
A day after Goa Chief Minister laxmikant Parsekar demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the $976,630 bribery allegation revealed in United States Justice department documents, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s revelation on Sunday about the involvement of two Ministers on Sunday, only adds gravity to the scandal and puts then Chief Minister Digambar Kamat in the dock.
“The project was related to JICA (Japan International Co-operation Agency), therefore then PWD Minister may be involved, but since the project also deals with financial approval, there is a likelihood that another Minister might be involved,” Parrikar said,
while addressing a meeting of party workers in Margao, a South Goa town located 35 kms from Panaji.
While Churchill Alemao was the Public Works Department Minister in 2010 in the Congress-led coalition Government, Digambar Kamat was the Chief Minister, also in charge of the the Finance Ministry.
Reacting to the charge Kamat welcome a probe into the bribery allegations. “It will reveal everything,” Kamat told reporters.
The Congress meanwhile has asked the BJP-led coalition government to start a probe saying it “does not fear anything” as long the probe is fair.
The bribe to Goa minister/s and officials were among the many pay-offs, which were reported to the US authorities by the company itself after it completed an internal investigation of billing related to government contracts on foreign soil from 1998 to 2010.
The New Jersey-based consultancy firm’s top officials have already pleaded guilty to offering bribes to the tune of $ 3.9 million to secure contracts in foreign countries including India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Kuwait, etc.
The bribes to the Goa ministers and officials were allegedly paid while selecting an agency to execute the Rs. 847 crore project funded by Tokyo-based JICA, (Japan International Co-operation Agency).
JICA is an independent governmental agency, that coordinates official development assistance for the government of Japan.
The JICA project in Goa includes expansion and augmentation of three water treatment plants, which would cater to both the state’s districts catering to a population of about 6.60 lakh. While the state government as its part of the bargain was to provide for taxes, land charges and other costs, the loan was to be repaid over a period of 30 years.
The louis and Berger bribery allegations however have already put the Congress on the mat, given the fact that it was a Congress-led coalition government which was in charge when the bribes were offered in 2010.
Speaking to The Pioneer then Public Works Development minister Churchill Alemao said that he was unaware of the US Justice department documents which have brought out the claim.
“Yes, the Congress was in power that time. But I do not know what documents you are talking about,” Alemao said.
Reacting to the bribery scandal Congress leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane said: “let there be an inquiry. Those who are innocent have nothing to fear”.