Ex-minister Churchill arrested in Berger bribery case
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 06 August 2015 00:19 IST
Former PWD minister Churchill Alemao was arrested by Goa police late last night, at around 11.30 pm, in the Louis Berger bribery case.
Kartik Kashyap, SP Crime Branch, confirmed the arrest.
He was picked up by the Crime Branch from his Varca residence and brought to its office at Ribandar by Goa police for further interrogation last night at around 10.30 pm.
He was then formally arrested little before midnight.
Alemao is the first politician arrested in the bribery case.
He was one of the ministers having charge of accepting bribe from Louis Berger International Inc, the US-based consultancy firm.
The Goa police is investigating into the bribery case, where the US-based consultancy firm - Louis Berger International Inc. - has admitted of having paid a bribe of Rs six crore to Goans ministers and government officials.
Louis Berger managed to get the project execution in Goa, supposedly after paying bribes during the Congress regime, then headed by Digambar Kamat.
Louis Berger is the consultancy firm for the water supply and sewerage project funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Alemao was earlier interrogated by the crime branch on three occasions.
Besides Alemao, former chief minister Digambar Kamat is also facing the charge of accepting bribes to clear the project.
Kamat has however filed anticipatory bail application, hearing on which would be now held on 7 August.
