The Congress party is in the dock over alleged corruption in a water development scheme dating back to 2010 in Goa and Assam; Releasing evidence in a press conference, the BJP has alleged that the finger points directly at the Digamber Kamat government and has sought a CBI probe into the matter.
The Party spokesperson has also said that it is important that the extent of the kick backs be traced to establish any links with the ruling family in Delhi.
Meanwhile, Goa Chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar has initiated a state level enquiry into the alleged Goa Water Development scheme corruption case dating back to 2010.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and his successor and Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar have said that a US firm had bribed two ex-ministers of former Congress Government in Goa led by Digambar Kamat, including Churchill Alemao, the then Minister for Public Works and Digamber Kamat himself who held the Finance portfolio.
Speaking at a function in Margao, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said that two of the Congress Ministers might have taken nearly 6 crore rupees in bribes. Louis Berger, a global consultancy firm, has admitted to a US court that it had paid nearly 1 million dollars in bribes for a water development project in Goa in 2010.
Churchill Alemao, the then Minister for Public Works, has denied any wrongdoing.
The then Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat, who held the Finance portfolio, has tried to distance himself from the controversy, arguing that a standing committee looked after the appointment of a consultant or approval of works done by a consultant.
The bribery case involves payment of 9,76,630 dollars for a Goa project by Louis Berger of which some portion allegedly went to one of the two ministers. Breakup of the bribes paid are awaited from the US Department of Justice. However, US Federal prosecutors, in their 11-page chargesheet, had alleged that Louis Berger maintained a detailed diary and account of bribery made to the Indians.