Modi discusses Berger bribery case with Parrikar-Parsekar
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 25 August 2015 18:46 IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the Louis Berger bribery case with Goa’s two top ruling politicians – Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar.
Both the Goa leaders called upon the prime minister today morning in the national capital.
Parsekar confirmed having discussed Berger bribery case, but said it was part of a casual discussion taken place on various issues.
“He was enquiring about the Berger bribery case. I told him whatever I know about it and also suggested him to get more details from the Enforcement Directorate”, Parsekar told goanews.com.
ED comes directly under the central government.
It had raided five establishments of former chief minister Digambar Kamat and his close relatives on 20 August, the day after Kamat was granted anticipatory bail by the court.
The ED sleuths had also confiscated land deal papers worth Rs 100 crore and foreign exchange from two bank lockers of Gaurish alias Pinky Lawande, brother-in-law of Kamat.
Parsekar however denied that the purpose of meeting the PM was to discuss the Berger bribery case.
Both the leaders handed over a cheque of Rs 1.90 crore on behalf of Goa as a relief fund for Jammu and Kashmir flood victims.
Parsekar however admitted that the cheque was actually an excuse to meet the PM in the background of all-party delegation led by Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah to press for diversion of Mhadei water.
“But we didn’t raise the issue as Modiji has already told the delegation that he won’t interfere in it when the matter is before the water dispute tribunal”, said Parsekar.
According to him, Berger bribery case was part of casual discussions since it is making waves all over the country.
He did not elaborate further on the issue when goanews.com phoned the CM to find out details of the meeting.
Former Congress CM Kamat and former PWD minister Churchill Alemao are charged of accepting huge amount of bribes from Louis Berger International Inc., the US-based consultancy firm.
The firm has admitted before the Department of Justice in New Jersey of paying bribes of total Rs six crore to ‘a’ minister and government officials in Goa to get the consultancy contract of JICA project.
Louis Berger was selected for consultancy to implement the project, worth Rs 1031 crore, funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
