Crime Branch challenges Kamat anticipatory bail in HC

The Bombay High Court's Panaji bench on Thursday issued notice to former Goa chief minister Digambar Kamat, on a plea by the Crime Branch challenging his anticipatory bail in the Louis Berger bribery case.

Justice K.L. Wadane, who heard the Crime Branch's appeal against the anticipatory bail granted to Kamat by a special court on Wednesday, has now posted the matter for August 27.

Kamat, along with Churchill Alemao, also a former chief minister, and other government officials have been accused of allegedly accepting a $976,630 bribe in 2010 from officials of US-based Louis Berger consultancy firm to secure implementation rights of a multi-billion dollar water and sewerage project in Goa funded by the Japan International Co-Operation Agency (JICA).

He has been charged with sections relating to criminal conspiracy and causing disappearance of evidence of offence of the Indian Penal Code as well aections 7, 8, 9 and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Crime Branch has maintained that Kamat was delivered the bribe amount in installments. He however has cried political victimization and that he had no role in allotting the consultancy project.

Alemao, along with three others, have already been arrested in connection with the case.