Obtaining info under RTI a planned plot by Kamat: probe

Navhind Times: Panaji: Friday, 25 September 2015.

Obtaining alleged fabricated information under the RTI Act pertaining to the project funded by JICA was a plot well planned by former chief minister Digambar Kamat, the police investigation has revealed.

Information obtained by Kamat under RTI Act had said that the main missing file in question was attached by the Crime Branch. The ‘missing file’ is one of the grounds on which Crime Branch police wants custody of Kamat.

The plan however seems to have been foiled by the police probe which has revealed how Kamat allegedly manipulated and obtained the alleged false information under the RTI using his political clout, claimed sources. The FIR was registered in the Louis Berger bribery case on July 21.

“Two days later, Kamat files an RTI asking for information of the main file when the Crime Branch police were going through the documents and had attached some files at the project office in Altinho,” claimed sources.

Incidentally, the former head of the Goa water supply and sewerage project (funded by JICA) Anand Wachasundar on July 24 had convened an ‘urgent meeting’ allegedly at the behest of Kamat, wherein directions were issued to staff to provide the RTI information to Kamat, informed sources. Wachasundar’s contractual appointment was terminated by the government a couple of days later.

According to sources, Udaykumar Mandewalkar, the surveyor in his statement before a magistrate has said that the (false) RTI information was issued to Kamat based on the directions of Wachasundar.

Once again Kamat through an application dated August 10 had asked for similar queries under RTI. The application was submitted by Margao Municipal Council chairperson (MMC) Arthur D’Silva on August 10 and on August 11 the reply which was also collected by D’Silva. Interestingly, the police claimed to have found an authority letter dated August 5, in name of D’Silva signed by Kamat in order to collect the RTI information, the sources said.

Crime Branch police have already questioned Kamat and D’Silva in connection with the matter. Police have obtained specimen of handwriting and signature samples of D’Silva. According to police, in one of the RTI applications there was an additional handwritten question added by D’Silva. Last month the special court had granted anticipatory bail to D’Silva in connection with the case.