No case reported in road contract scam in Goa: CM

Panaji, July 20 (IANS) Nearly a year after the state Public Works Ministry ordered a probe into allegations of bribery by a Boston-based consultancy firm in road construction contracts, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday told the Goa assembly that there was "no such case reported" in the state.

To a question from Congress MLA Aleixo Lourenco, who sought to know the status of the "bribery case" allegedly involving Goa government officials, Parrikar said in a written reply: "There is no such case reported at any of the police stations in Goa".

The "bribery scandal" surfaced after the National Highways Authority of India in July last year ordered an inquiry into the allegation that CDM Smith,a Boston-based consultancy firm, paid $ 1.18 million as graft to officials to get four contracts.

The consultancy firm, in self-disclosure, had informed a Central agency that 2-4 per cent of the contract value had been paid to officials, to secure the contract.

Following the revelation, PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar had said that he would probe the allegation.

The Aam Aadmi Party in Goa had also filed a formal complaint with Goa Police alleging corruption in the matter, but no FIR was registered.

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