Ex-PWD minister Churchill Alemao arrested in Louis Berger case by the Crime Branch

Panaji: Former Public Works Department (PWD) minister Churchill Alemao was arrested by the Crime Branch of the Goa Police late on Wednesday in connection with the Louis Berger bribery case, in which Goa's former chief minister Digambar Kamat is also linked.

Alemao, who police claim is one of the recipients of the $976,630 bribe paid by Louis Berger officials in 2010, in order to secure implementation rights for a Rs.1,031 crore worth water and sewage management project funded by the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA).

Police sources said that Alemao, who had been detained at the Crime Branch premises since late evening, was booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Alemao is a former chief minister and had been detained under the National Security Act in the past.

Director of the JICA-funded project Anand Wachasundar and former India head of Louis Berger Satyakam Mohanty have already been arrested, while former Congress chief minister Digambar Kamat, who is also being probed, secured interim bail on Wednesday.

(IANS)