The move to set up a full-fledged inquiry by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis comes at a time when Goa Crime Branch has arrested four persons in the case. (File)
As Goa Police make rapid progress in Louis Berger bribery scam, government in neighbouring Maharashtra today ordered an inquiry to ascertain if there had been irregularities in awarding of consultancy of some projects.
"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 said today.
A full-fledged inquiry will be set up to see 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, forallegedly 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."