Goa's ex-CM Digambar granted bail, NO arrest
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 19 August 2015 10:13 IST
Former chief minister Digambar Kamat has been granted conditional anticipatory bail in the Louis Berger bribery case.
The possibility of his arrest is thus ruled out.
The whole state was eagerly waiting to know whether Kamat would be arrested on corruption charges.
He had filed for anticipatory bail on 5 August.
Judge B P Deshpande, heading the special court dealing with corruption cases, delivered the order today morning, after hearing the case last week.
He has been granted conditional bail with a security of Rs one lakh.
Kamat, the Margao MLA, is the first politician holding chief minister’s position, who has been implicated in corruption case.
He had started his career as the legislator of Bharatiya Janata Party in 1994, but later shifted to Congress in 2005 and became the chief minister in 2007.
Goa is presently ruled by the BJP. Kamat had blamed the BJP government of political vendetta in targetting him.
Kamat had filed anticipatory bail on 5 August while his colleague and former PWD minister Churchill Alemao was arrested the same night.
Both of them are accused as ‘main conspirators’ in getting huge amount of bribes to clear the consultancy project of Louis Berger International Inc., the US-based consultancy firm.
The firm was selected during the tenure of Digambar Kamat, who was heading the Congress government for full term since 2007.
Louis Berger is the consultancy firm to execute augmentation of water supply and sewerage project in Goa, funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The case came to light with officials of Louis Berger admitted before the Department of Justice in New Jersey last month of having paid bribes to the tune of Rs six crore to ‘a’ minister and government officials in Goa.
The crime branch of Goa police then moved into action based on a complaint filed in this regard by Goa’s home department under secretary on 21 July.
Since then, the police have arrested four persons, including Alemao.
Except Satyakam Mohanty, former vice president of Louis Berger (India), who was bailed out on 17 August, the rest are still locked up inside.
Kamat has forcefully argued in the court that he was not connected in granting consultancy project to Louis Berger and the file never came to him.
Incidentally, the file of JICA project, which has all the notings of ministers etc, is still missing.
FULL COURT ORDER ON DIGAMBAR BAIL
Chor Chor Chor escaping justice but natural justice will prevail
DIGAMBAR IS INNOCENT!! HE IS ACTUALLY LIKE MANMOHAN SINGH. WHILE THE FEW OTHERS IN PARTY MAY BE CORRUPT BUT HE GETS BLAMED IN THE END. THIS IS A CONSPIRACY TO SPOIL DIGAMBARS NAME AS HE HAS NEVER LOST IN ELECTIONS FROM SOUTH GOA. MARGAO.
ENTIRE SOUTH GOA AND MARGAO IS WITH YOU DIGAMBAR. DONT YOU WORRY.
Digambar Kamat you escaped Mining Scam but Can You escape Louis Berger bribery Now ?
What Good and development have you done to People go Goa and of Margão ? Please present your facts here ASAP... so your Cronies can support you now !
Digambar Kamat please present your Heart to people of Goa or u will never RIP !