Churchill sent to 4-day police custody, complains of health issue
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 06 August 2015 17:37 IST
Churchill brought to special court of corruption cases, in Panaji
Former Congress PWD minister Churchill Alemao has been remanded to four-day police custody today.
He was arrested little before midnight yesterday in connection with the Louis Berger bribery case.
Alemao was produced today afternoon before the special court constituted to deal with corruption cases, headed by judge B P Deshpande.
The police had asked for a 12-day remand to interrogate former PWD minister in the bribery case.
While arguing for remand, the government counsel Guruprasad Kirtani said the file relating to JICA water supply and sewerage project is missing, thus the investigating authority needs Alemao in the custody.
He also informed the court that the police team is presently searching for more documents at Louis Berger office in Gurgaon and Alemao’s custody is also needed to verify the facts.
The police are also interrogating Satyakam Mohanty, former vice president of Louis Berger (India), who was arrested on 3 August.
Alemao’s lawyer Arun Braz D’Sa, while opposing the remand, however complained about Alemao’s health issues.
Adv Kirtani assured that Alemao would be provided with proper facilities like toilet etc while being in the police custody.
Alemao is being charged with accepting huge amount of bribe from Louis Berger International Inc., the US-based consultancy firm.
Alemao however continues to deny the charge, while alleging that his arrest was politically motivated.
Alemao’s daughter Valanka, who visited him at the crime branch office today morning, also said his arrest was unwarranted when he was fully cooperating with the investigations.
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.
The JICA project was cleared during Alemao’s tenure as the PWD minister.
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 tomorrow.
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