The Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) made significant strides in the ongoing investigation into the Mithi River desilting scandal this week, arresting two individuals, Ketan Kadam and Jay Joshi, linked to the multi-crore scheme. This development follows the booking of 13 individuals, including three officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), on charges of financial misconduct related to the desilting contracts for the years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.
Sangramsinh Nishandar, Deputy Commissioner of Police with the EOW, announced that Kadam is associated with Voder India LLP, while Joshi operates Virgo Specialties Pvt Ltd. Both will be presented in court as the agency continues to unravel the complexities of the alleged fraud.
The investigation commenced after EOW officials uncovered numerous financial irregularities surrounding the contracts. Specific concerns arose regarding the transportation of sludge and its improper disposal, leading to the discovery of nine fraudulent Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) submitted by contractors. To further their investigation, the EOW executed searches at seven locations, encompassing residences of BMC officials, contractors, and intermediaries.
The formal charges against the accused include violations under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including sections 406, 409, 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, and 120-B. Among those implicated are Assistant Engineer Prashant Ramugade, Deputy Chief Engineers Ganesh Bendre and Prashant Tayshette, alongside various individuals affiliated with construction firms such as Acute Designing and Nikhil Construction.
Inspector Bilal Shaikh of the EOW is leading the case, which is expected to expand significantly, with additional FIRs anticipated in the near future. Sources indicated that notices will soon be issued to the suspects for further questioning.
The original FIR filed at the Azad Maidan Police Station alleges that the BMC officials exploited their positions for illicit financial gain. They purportedly plotted to defraud the corporation by manipulating terms outlined in the contract regarding silt management equipment, including a silt pusher and a multipurpose amphibious pontoon machine. The investigation pointed to collusion between BMC officials and various contractors, including key figures from Matprop Company.
According to the EOW’s findings, these officials failed to verify the legitimacy of the dumping sites mentioned in the fraudulent MoUs, allowing contractors to exploit the situation. Additionally, the financial repercussions were exacerbated by the approval of payment claims based on forged documentation concerning weight measurements and logs.
Details emerging from the FIR indicate that some of the primary accused, including Deepak Mohan and Ketan Kadam, misled contractors into believing that they needed to engage with Joshi’s and Kadam’s companies for machinery rentals, inflating costs significantly. An initial quoted rental of Rs 8 crore for machinery was negotiated down to Rs 4 crore, all orchestrated in collaboration with BMC officials to siphon additional funds from unsuspecting contractors.
As the investigation develops, the EOW remains vigilant, aiming to expose the full extent of this alleged corruption and ensure accountability among those involved in the Mithi River desilting operation.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/mumbai-police-eow-arrest-middlemen-mithi-river-desilting-scam-9989166/
Category : Cities,Mumbai
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Publish Date: 2025-05-07 22:00:00
