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Bribes routed through fictitious companies

By R Dutta Choudhury

GUWAHATI, Aug 6 - American company Louis Berger paid bribes in Assam by transferring funds in the names of fictitious companies. Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has started preliminary investigations into the Louis Berger scam in the State.

Louis Berger has admitted that two senior officials of the company were involved in paying bribes in Assam and Goa to get contracts as consultants for water supply projects. The project, for which the American company paid bribe in Assam, was the Greater Guwahati Water Supply Project, being implemented by the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA).

Official sources told The Assam Tribune that instead of paying money directly to anyone, the American company transferred funds in the name of fictitious companies and only a proper investigation by a competent investigating agency can find out the bank accounts of the fictitious companies, to which funds were transferred. Sources admitted that there is every possibility that the bank accounts might be closed now, but a thorough investigation can unearth the persons responsible for opening of the accounts.

The State government has ordered a probe by Additional Chief Secretary SC Das into the allegations of payment of bribes by Louis Berger.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had assured that if any prima facie evidence of wrong doing is found, the government would entrust the Central Bureau of Investigation with the responsibility of probing into it.

Sources said that the Additional Chief Secretary has already called for the records of awarding contracts of consultants to the water supply project from the GMDA and Guwahati Development Department to find out whether there was any irregularity in the process. He also held talks with the Louis Berger representative here, but the details of the meetings are not yet known.

Meanwhile, the ED has started preliminary investigation into the scam. Sources said that the aim of the preliminary investigation is to find out whether there was any violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act. However, till date, the ED has not registered any case in this regard, sources added.

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