In surprise raids conducted in the wee hours of Thursday, officials of the Enforcement Directorate and Crime Branch swooped upon the residences of Digambar Kamat at Margao as well as some of his associates in Margao and Panaji.
The raids which continued till evening resulted in seizures of foreign currency and financial documents. “During the search operation many financial documents including foreign currencies belonging to different countries were seized under panchnama. The examination of documents is in progress. Summons will be issued to the concerned shortly after completion of the examination of the documents,” an ED spokesperson said.
Among the places raided include that of the residence of Kamat in Margao, his brother-in-law Gaurish lawande’s residence, along with the latter’s office premises in Panaji, the offices of Nilesh lawande and residence of one Narhar Thakur here. The ED had filed an Enforcement Case Information Report in the wake of investigations in the louis Berger International Bribery scandal after it was revealed that the bribe money was allegedly moved through the Hawala route.
An alleged Hawala dealer Raichand Soni was also arrested by the Crime Branch in connection with the bribery case in which two former Chief Ministers, including Kamat and officials are in the dock.