Will not pardon Louis Berger bribery accused: Parsekar

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said on Thursday that those involved in the US firm Louis Berger bribery scandal would not receive any pardon from his government.

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said on Thursday that those involved in the US firm Louis Berger bribery scandal would not receive any pardon from his government.

The company Louis Berger has been charged with bribing Indian officials $976,000 to win two major water developmental projects in Goa and Guwahati. (Photo courtesy- louisberger.com)

"Those who are involved in corruption at the cost of state would not be pardoned. It is our duty to help police in investigation and we should encourage it," Parsekar said.

"The Louis Berger (bribery case) is aptly handled by police. This is because they are given a free hand by government," he told the Legislative Assembly.

The US company had allegedly bribed ministers to secure consultancy rights for water augmentation and a sewerage line project executed with JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) funding.

The crime branch which is probing the case quizzed former chief minister and Congress leader Digambar Kamat and former PWD minister Churchill Alemao on Thursday.

Police have already arrested A Wachasunder, a senior official who headed the controversial JICA water project in Goa that is at the centre of the pay off case.