Assam CM Orders Probe Into Louis Berger Bribery-Charges

20 July, Guwahati

With his Ministers and bureaucrats facing allegations of involvement in the bribery scam involving US firm Louis Berger, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today ordered an inquiry into the matter.

I have asked additional chief secretary Subhash Das to inquire into the matter. Depending on its findings, we will proceed, Mr Gogoi told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

He said the question of a CBI probe will arise at a later stage. “If the inquiry conducted by our additional chief secretary finds any indications of wrongdoing, we will recommend a CBI inquiry,” the CM added.

A US court has charged New Jersey-based consultancy firm Louis Berger of paying kickbacks to secure government contracts in India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Kuwait between 1998-2010. The firm was appointed as consultant for a water supply project,being funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 2009 in Guwahati and the charges against the firm stated that bribes amounting to Rs 6 million were paid for two water development projects in Guwahati (Assam) and Goa.

The water supply project in Guwahati, expected to be commissioned by November 2016, is being handled by the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), which is under Guwahati Development Department (GDD).

The then-GDD minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma has claimed no knowledge of any such kickbacks paid to anyone and maintained that all paper work was handled at the officials level.