Soni still not revealing who gave him 'bribe' money
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 11 August 2015 19:57 IST
Hawala operator Raichand Soni is still not revealing who gave him the money to transfer to Goa, in connection with the Louis Berger bribery case.
He has however admitted of having transferred Rs 1.75 crore to the former employees of India-based employees of Louis Berger International Inc., the US-based consultancy firm, on four occasions.
His remand to police custody has been extended by three more days.
Soni was arrested on 7 August.
Goa police says the amount was meant for paying bribes to former chief minister Digambar Kamat and former PWD minister Churchill Alemao, both then belonging to the Congress.
Goa is presently ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Both the former ministers are accused of granting consultancy contract to Louis Berger, after taking huge amount of bribes on several occasions from the US-based firm.
Soni transferred this amount from US to Goa, through hawala operation.
While extending Soni’s remand, the special court dealing with corruption cases also heard his bail plea today.
Judge B P Deshpande adjourned the hearing on 13 August as Soni’s remand to police custody expires the next day.
The court also heard the bail plea of A M Wachasundar, the suspended project director of JICA-funded water supply and sewerage project. It is adjourned to 14 August.
He is presently serving judicial custody, after being in the police custody.
Wachasundar, according to crime branch of Goa police, played a role of negotiator in the alleged bribery case.
