Ex-minister Churchill Alemao arrested in Goa bribery case
Alemao first politician held in Louis Berger scam
Panaji: Former public works department minister Churchill Alemao was on Thursday remanded to four-day police custody by a court in connection with the Louis Berger bribery case hours after his arrest by the Goa Crime Branch, which is now closing in on former chief minister Digambar Kamat.
Mr Alemao, who was the minister in the previous Congress government led by Digambar Kamat, was taken into custody from Agassaim village in South Goa around midnight. His bail petition would be heard by the district and sessions Court on Friday.
Goa police claimed to have “clinching evidence” against Mr Alemao who contended that his arrest was part of a “political game”, a charge rejected by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar.
A senior crime branch official, on anonymity, said, “Alemao was arrested as we got enough evidence against him after interrogating the other accused. We might need custodial interrogation of Kamat too.”
Before being produced in court, 66-year-old Mr Alemao said, “It is a political game. They are harassing me for no reason. I am ready to appear before the investigating officer whenever they want. I am innocent. I have not robbed anything,” he said.
Mr Alemao is the only politician arrested so far in connection with the pay-off scandal. The Crime Branch had quizzed Mr Alemao twice last week, besides Mr Kamat, who was the then CM between 2007 and 2012.
Mr Parsekar, who heads the BJP-led Government in the state, rejected the allegation of political interference in the investigation. “Police is doing a good job. No one would be spared. There is no political interference in that. We have given a free hand to them to investigate this case,” he said.
During the hearing on his remand, Mr Alemao’s lawyer said, “My client is ready to be in the custody even till Monday if there is something that police can expect to collect from him.”