CDM Smith bribery scam: No such case reported in Goa, says CM

Nearly a year after the state Public Works Ministry had ordered a probe into allegations of bribery by a Boston-based consultancy firm to NHAI and state PWD officials for facilitation of government contracts, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday told the Goa assembly, that there was "no such case reported" in the state.

To a question from Congress MLA Aleixo Lourenco, who sought to know the status of the CDM Smith bribery scam which involved Goa government officials, Parrikar said in a written reply: "There is no such case reported at any of the police stations in the State of Goa".

The bribery scandal for contracts in Goa was discovered after the National Highways Authority of India in July last year, had ordered an enquiry into the allegation that CDM Smith paid $ 1.18 million as graft to officials in order to get the four contracts.

The consultancy firm, as a matter of self-disclosure, had earlier informed in writing to the central government agency that between two per cent to four per cent of the contract value had been paid to officials, to secure the contract.

Following the revelation, PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar had said that he would probe the issue.

The Aam Aadmi Party in Goa had also filed a formal complaint with the Goa Police alleging corruption in the matter, but no First Information Report was registered.

--IANS

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