Public prosecutor attached to the Louis Berger bribery case had quit over the issue of media criticism, he was representing Goa crime branch in most controversial Louis Berger case. According to him media raised the issues over his competence for which he developed the moral obligation and resigned from the post of public prosecutor of Crime Branch of Goa. According to the news published in national daily Kirtani told PTI that “Certain developments have taken place, without my consent, which has led to unwarranted criticism of my competency in a section of press, as also in social media,” Kirtani also mentioned that the resignation letter was addressed to Under Secretary (Home Department) Neetal Amonkar.
Though he tendered his resignation much earlier on 15th August 2015 but the copies of the same made available to the media just a day before. Kirtani was representing the state crime branch in the matters pertaining to the several petitions filed by the accused in the Louis Berger bribery case.
He also argued against the grant of anticipatory bail plea of Digamer Kamat and bail petition of former PWD minister Churchill Alemao, the most augmented thing that lead to this decision was the non co-operation from government and home department “Surprisingly, there has not been a single statement on behalf of the government clarifying their stance on the above issue,” Kirtani stated without specifying the “issue” he has mentioned in the resignation letter.
He also raised the other concerns in the resignation letter in which he mentioned that his personal cases are also suffering due to the excess load from Louis Berger cases “In addition, on account of the fact that I was required to be present at all times before the special court, my personal professional commitments in other cases or in other courts have tremendously suffered,” the letter stated.
Media tried to contact other ministers as well as Kirtani himself for the comments on this issue but nobody was available to comment and Kirtani did not answer telephone calls, but when media contacted the officials they confirmed the receipt of the resignation but said Kirtani’s resignation is not yet accepted by the department.
It has to be recalled that the crime branch of Goa police has revealed the names of accused in the Louis Berger bribery case based on the information provided by US consultancy firm rising out of the legal prosecution faced by the officials of the Louis Berger employees in US court. The crime branch of Goa police has named Kamat and Alemao among others in the bribery case and Police have so far arrested Alemao, former vice-president of Louis Berger Satyakam Mohanty, head of JICA-aided project in Goa Anand Wachasunder and alleged hawala dealer Raychand Soni in the case.
It is highly unpredictable as where this Louis Berger case would lead to, it has been perceived that under the pretext of this case there are old skeletons have been elevated out of the graveyard and more such skeletons will come up in the near future, in fact it looks like this Berger issue will go very far. Let’s wait and watch. Meanwhile you please leave your valuable comments and suggestions on this issue.
Source: PTI
Edited by: Goa Prism News Desk
