Bribery case: Kamat's house searched, bail challenged

The Enforcement Directorate and Goa Police today searched the residence of former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and questioned a relative in the Louis Berger bribery case even as the Crime Branch moved the High Court against anticipatory bail granted to him yesterday.
Searches at Kamat's residence and some other places were conducted to trace a missing file related to Japan International Cooperation Agency-funded project for which the US consultancy firm allegedly paid a hefty sum as bribe during the Congress rule in 2010.
Kamat's brother-in-law Pinky Lawande was questioned by ED at his office in Panaji city, sources in the anti-money laundering agency said.

The ED and the state police's Crime Branch searched five places, including Kamat's residence in Margao town.
The house of Lawande in Panaji's plush Miramar locality was also searched before he was questioned.
The Crime Branch today also moved the Goa bench of Bombay High Court seeking cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to Kamat in the case.

Admitting the petition, the court scheduled the matter to be heard on August 27 and asked Kamat to file his response.
In a related development, the district court reserved its order till Monday on the bail petition filed by former Public Works Department minister Churchill Alemao, currently in judicial remand in connection with the case.

The ED had earlier this month lodged an FIR relating to money laundering in the Louis Berger case.
The police had recently slapped on Kamat the additional charge of 'causing disappearance of evidence' under section 201 of IPC. Earlier, he was charged under IPC section 120-B (conspiracy) and provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.
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.