After Goa, Maharashtra govt looks into Louis Berger contracts

As Goa Police make rapid progress in Louis Berger pay-off scam, government in adjoining Maharashtra today ordered an inquiry to ascertain if there had been irregularities in awarding of consultancy of some projects, including Navi Mumbai airport, to the US firm.
"Yes, I have ordered an inquiry by a committee headed by a senior bureaucrat in the contracts awarded to Louis Berger," Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told PTI in Mumbai.
A full-fledged inquiry will be set up if deviations in awarding contracts came to light, he said.
Louis Berger has served as the management consultant for a slew of projects in the country's financial hub such as the Mumbai Metro One rail service, Monorail, Navi Mumbai international airport project and Santacruz Chembur-Link Road.

Last month, the firm had admitted in a US Court that it paid bribes to top Indian officials to bag water and sewerage projects in Goa and Assam.
The Goa Crime Branch has so far arrested four persons, including former Public Works Minister Churchill Alemao, for allegedly receiving bribes for handing down a consultancy contract of a major water development project in the state.

The police are also closing in on former Congress Chief Minister Digambar Kamat of Goa, who has sought anticipatory bail and secured interim protection from arrest till August 12. The scandal took place in 2010 when Kamat was the Chief Minister and Alemao PWD Minister.

Meanwhile, a District Court in Panaji extended the police custody of Alemao by three more days. Seeking extension of his custody, the Public Prosecutor said "the applicant (Alemao) is not cooperating and indirectly threatening the Investigating Officer."
He also said investigators need to find out how the money, allegedly paid as bribe to Alemao, was used or spent.
Louis Berger, its statement to a New Jersey Court, had admitted of paying bribe to an Indian Minister to win consultancy for projects funded by Japanese agency JAICA.
The District Court also heard the bail application of Satyakam Mohanty, ex-Louis Berger Vice-President who is also under arrest. Mohanty's counsel, while seeking bail, said his client was innocent. The hearing will continue tomorrow.

Opposition Congress has accused the BJP-led government of "going selectively" in the case and demanded a CBI probe. Chief Minister Laxmikant Parasekar, however, has rubbished the charge and rejected the CBI probe demand.