CBI probe into Louis Berger bribery scam continues

Guwahati (Assam), September 30, 2018:

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has kept conducting its probe into the Louis Berger bribery scam in Guwahati.

The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Department (GMDA) is closed on Sunday as it is a holiday but the sleuths of the agency paid a visit to the office and examined documents pertaining to a water supply project the contract of which was won by Louis Berger.

On Saturday, the CBI team had grilled former GMDA chief executive officer (CEO) Pritam Saikia in connection with the scam. With him, altogether 14 officials of the GMDA, including an accountant, were interrogated by the CBI.

Earlier, the name of Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had got entangled to the scam. It remains to be seen if he is questioned.

Opposition Congress described the probe as eyewash saying the “CBI is under the control of BJP”.

In 2015, officials of the US-based Louis Berger had admitted in a court in that country that they had bribed senior government officials in some countries, including India, to win government projects.