PANAJI: Of the 14 shell companies connected to Louis Berger bribery case, 13 have shut their offices long back while one has its office but is said to be non-functional.
According to information, these companies were based in Kolkata.
Few days back, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probing the money laundering case in the Louis Berger bribery scam had raided these offices, however, nothing could be found.
Source informed that raids revealed that 13 companies had closed down while one had its office but it was non functional. Bank transactions had revealed the connection of these companies to Louis Berger bribery case, informed ED officials.
According to ED officials, these 14 shell companies were specially formed and were used to transfer the bribe money from US-based consultancy firm Louis Berger to India. The money to be paid as bribe to politicians and bureaucrats was withdrawn from these companies (in cash) and was ferried to Goa through hawala channel, ED officials said.
ED in August 2015 had registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with multi-crore Louis Berger bribery scam against then ministers in Goa government and other officials.
In this connection, ED have attached moveable and immovable properties worth Rs 1.95 crore of former Chief Minister of Goa Digambar Kamat and the then PWD Minister Churchill Alemao, both are currently MLAs.