Bribery case: ED, Police search Ex-CM's home, quiz relative

The Enforcement Directorate and Goa Police today conducted searches at the residence of former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat among other places in the state and questioned a relative of the Congress leader in connection with the Louis Berger bribery case.
Investigations are underway to trace a missing file related to Japan International Cooperation Agency-funded project for which the US consultancy company allegedly paid the bribe, a senior Crime Branch official said.
Kamat's brother-in-law Pinky Lawande was hauled up in his office in Panaji city for questioning by the ED sleuths, a senior ED official said.
The ED and the state Crime Branch police began the searches this morning at five places, including Kamat's residence in Margao town, a senior police official said.

The house owned by Lawande in Panaji's plush Miramar locality was also searched before he was questioned, the ED official said.
While the Crime Branch searched Kamat's residence, the ED conducted searches at his residence and offices as well as that of his relative Lawande.

The ED had earlier this month lodged an FIR relating to money laundering in the Louis Berger case to probe charges of bribing Indian officials to allegedly win a major water developmental project in Goa.
Meanwhile, former state Public Works Department Minister Churchill Alemao, who was arrested in connection with the case, has moved a fresh bail application before district court which is expected to be heard later today.

The Crime Branch has also appealed before the Goa bench of Bombay High Court against the anticipatory bail granted to Kamat by the district court.
While granting anticipatory bail to Kamat yesterday, the court asked him to furnish a surety of Rs one lakh, not to tamper with the evidence, and to cooperate with the Crime Branch as and when summoned.
The police recently slapped an additional charge of 'causing disappearance of evidence' against Kamat under section 201 of IPC. Earlier, he was charged under IPC section 120-B (conspiracy) and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Kamat was Goa Chief Minister when the alleged bribe was given in 2010.

Police have so far arrested Churchill Alemao, former vice-president of Louis Berger Satyakam Mohanty, head of JICA-aided project in Goa Anand Wachasunder and alleged hawala dealer Raychand Soni in the case.
Mohanty was granted bail on Monday.