Louis Berger bribery scam: Former minister Churchill Alemao remanded to four-day police custody

Panaji: Former Public Works Department Minister Churchill Alemao was on Thursday remanded to four-day police custody by a court here in connection with the Louis Berger bribery case hours after his arrrest by the Goa Crime Branch, which is now closing in on former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat. Alemao, who was minister in the previous Congress government-led by Digambar Kamat, was taken into custody from Agassaim village in South Goa around midnight. His bail petition would be heard by the District and Sessions Court on Friday. Goa Police claimed to have “clinching evidence” against Alemao who contended that his arrest was part of a “political game”, a charge rejected by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, heading the BJP-led government in Goa. A senior Crime Branch official, requesting annonymity, said, “Alemao was arrested as we got clinching evidence against him after interrogating other accused. We might need custodial interrogation of Kamat too.” [caption id=“attachment_2382098” align=“alignleft” width=“380” class=" “]  Former PWD minister of Goa Churchill Alemao. AFP[/caption] Before being produced in court, 66-year-old Alemao told reporters that his arrest was part of a political game. “It is a political game. They are harassing me for no reason. I am ready to appear before the investigating officer whenever they want. I am innocent. I have not robbed anything,” he said. Alemao is the only politician arrested so far in connection with the pay-off scandal. The Crime Branch had quizzed Alemao twice last week, besides Kamat, who was the Chief Minister between 2007 and 2012. Parsekar, who heads the BJP-led Government in the state, rejected the allegation of political interference in the investigation. “Police is doing a good job. No one would be spared. There is no political interference in that. We have given a free hand to them to investigate this case.” During the hearing on his remand, Alemao’s lawyer said, “my client is ready to be in the custody even till Monday if there is something that police can expect to collect from him.” On the other hand, police is preparing to oppose Kamat’s anticipatory bail plea, which will come up for hearing tomorrow in a court here. “We are preparing a strong response for the anticipatory bail plea filed by Kamat. We will oppose it,” a Crime Branch officer said. State Director General of Police T Mohan said it would completely depend on the investigating officer (IO) whether or not to oppose the anticipatory bail plea of Kamat. “But I feel he must be opposing it as they might want him for the investigation,” the DGP said. Alemao, 66, claimed he was innocent and his arrest was “politically motivated,” a charge rejected by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, heading the BJP-led Government in the state. Supporters of Kamat, who represents Margao in the state assembly, had gathered at his residence yesterday in a show of solidarity. Independent MLA Vijay Sardesai also visited the 61-year-old leader’s house. The Crime Branch had earlier arrested Anand Wachasunder, former director of JICA-aided project for Goa and Louis Berger’s ex-vice president Berger Satyakam Mohanty in connection with the case. The scandal involves the New Jersey-based consultancy firm allegedly doling out bribes to win the consultancy for a water project under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) funding. The details of the bribery scandal of USD 976,630 for the Goa project have not been disclosed by the US Department of Justice. PTI