GUWAHATI, Sept 19 - The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Assam Police has started the process to procure the documents of the Louis Berger bribery scam from the courts in America, while a team of the CID also went to Goa to coordinate with the police of that State in connection with the scam.
Highly placed police sources told The Assam Tribune that only the documents procured from the American courts in connection with the scam would be legally valid and the process of procuring the same has started.
To formally procure documents from the courts of the United States, the CID would have to first take permission of the Central and State Governments and then move the US court through the court in Assam. Sources revealed that the CID has already moved the Union Home Ministry (MHA) seeking permission for the same.
The Department of Justice of the United States of America has already probed the financial dealings of Louis Berger in four countries, including India, and held the company guilty of paying bribes. The company also pleaded guilty for the same and reportedly paid the fine imposed by the Department of Justice of America.
Two senior officers of the company, who were allegedly responsible for the payment of bribes, were also sacked by the company.
Police sources revealed that if the papers of the US courts are not obtained formally, those would not be legally valid and that is why, the process to obtain the papers formally has started.
A team of the CID also went to New Delhi to formally apply to the MHA seeking permission for the process of obtaining the documents from the United States Court. During the visit, the CID team also went to the head office of Louis Berger in India to question the senior officers and check the relevant documents.
On the visit of the CID team to Goa, sources said that Goa Police has already made substantial progress in the investigation of a similar case involving Louis Berger and that is why, it was felt that coordinated efforts would expedite the investigation of the case in Assam. Goa Police has already charged a former Chief Minister of the State along with another former minister in connection with the case.
As per the allegation, American company Louis Berger paid bribes in Assam and Goa to get jobs as consultants in the implementation of water supply projects.
