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Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Renting desilting machines for Mithi river caused Rs 17 crore loss: EOW
Mumbai: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) probing the alleged Rs 62.6 crore Mithi river desilting scam, found that the machinery used for desilting was to be purchased by the BMC but the accused officials allegedly altered the procurement process to facilitate renting arrangements with private firms at inflated rates, causing Rs 17 crore loss on this count, according to the chargesheet. The EOW is continuing with its probe into the scam involving several BMC officials, contractors, middlemen and private companies who allegedly colluded to manipulate tenders, forged documents, and inflated bills over a decade. The case originated from a complaint filed by police inspector Bilal Ahmed Amiruddin Sheikh of the EOW. The chargesheet names BMC officials including Prashant Ramugade (assistant engineer, designated officer, storm water department), Ganesh Bendre (deputy chief engineer, Pajwa, east suburbs), and Prashant Taishette (deputy chief engineer, circulation and preservation). Alongside them, directors of private companies—Jay Joshi (Virgo Specialties Pvt Ltd) and Ketan Kadam (CEO, Woder India LLP)—have been accused of criminal conspiracy and cheating. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Investigations showed that Virgo Specialties purchased only one Silt Pusher Machine as late as March 28, 2023, while Woder India LLP did not acquire any such machine. Despite this, fraudulent tripartite agreements were executed, misrepresenting facts to BMC authorities, and contractors were coerced into renting non-existent machinery, states the 7,000-page chargesheet filed by the EOW. The chargesheet details that contractors Bhupendra Purohit and firms such as Acute Design, Kailash Construction Co, N A Construction, Nikhil Construction Company, and J R S Infrastructure forged memoranda of understanding (MOUs) regarding dumping grounds for disposed silt. Probe showed the supposed dumping site owners had no agreements with these contractors, nor was any silt dumped at these sites. Despite the responsibility of BMC's executive engineers to verify these documents, officials knowingly approved them without verification, resulting in false bills being passed and payments disbursed. The amount of silt removal per year was deliberately increased by the concerned BMC officials. No scientific investigation was conducted by BMC to determine the actual silt in the Mithi river bed. Taking advantage of this, the officials inflated the quantities and the estimated costs in tenders, thereby benefiting contractors and themselves, causing financial loss to the BMC. Officials have also annexed the statements of a well-known tour operator and officials of five-star hotels in Delhi and Kerala, where BMC officials visited on a study tour to inspect the machinery. As per terms, the tour expenses were to be borne by the BMC, but expenses including air tickets were paid by contractors Virgo Specialties Pvt. and Matprop Technical Services Pvt Ltd. The preliminary investigation revealed that the contractors submitted false documents claiming silt had been removed from the Mithi river. In reality, silt was deposited at sites designated by contractors, which were not verified. The BMC disbursed Rs 45.5 crore to five contractors for desilting works from 2013 to 2021. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Mithi River desilting fraud accused denied bail
MUMBAI: An additional chief judicial magistrate court has denied bail to Jay Ashok Joshi and Ketan Kadam, who were arrested in connection with alleged irregularities in Mithi river desilting contracts. In a detailed order dated May 22, the court observed that the duo had caused losses worth ₹65 crore to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the public. Kadam, 50, is the director of Woder India LLP, a Mumbai-based company that provides desilting services, while Joshi, 49, is associated with Virgo Specialties Pvt Ltd, a Mumbai-based industrial product manufacturer. According to the police, the duo charged the BMC inflated amounts to rent silt pusher machines and dredging equipment from a Kochi-based firm, Matprop Technical Services Pvt Ltd. Matprop executives connived with officials from the BMC's storm water drains department (SWD) to defraud the civic body, the police said. The defence submitted that Kadam and Joshi were not beneficiaries of any illegal gains and their firms had nothing to do with tenders floated for desilting prior to 2021 since they did not supply any machines to any of the contractors. Joshi's advocate stated that he was an investor and financier involved in multiple business ventures and only delivered machines to contractors. He did not have any concern regarding the tender issued by the BMC for desilting Mithi river, the lawyer said. Kadam's advocate argued that he was neither a partner nor a director in Virgo or Woder. The prosecution submitted that the duo had committed serious offence, the defrauded amount was huge, and recovery was pending. The court rejected the argument that the duo had nothing to do with the BMC contract since the tender condition permitted the contractor to either own a machine or take it on rent. Joshi had used his influence to interfere in the tender process, the court said. 'It seems that though the applicant does not have any direct concern with the tender floated by BMC, he used his influence by using his contacts with the officers of the municipal corporation and got the conditions of the tender modified,' the court observed. The court said that the investigation was not yet complete, and many accused were yet to be arrested. 'Due to the act of the accused, wrongful loss is caused to the government and public at large,' said the court. It rejected the bail pleas of the duo, saying they might create hurdles in the probe. Meanwhile, two BMC officials – deputy chief engineer of the stormwater drains department (operation and maintenance) Prashant Tayshete and deputy chief engineer of Mithi River Development Project Prashant Ramugade – have also moved the sessions court seeking anticipatory bail.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Bail pleas of two held in Mithi desilting scam case rejected
Mumbai: A magistrate's court has rejected the bail plea of two middlemen arrested in the Mithi River desilting scam case, observing that more than Rs 65 crore is involved and wrongful loss was caused to the govt and public at large due to the act of the accused. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Earlier this month, the police's Economic Offences Wing arrested Ketan Kadam, director of Woder India LLP, and Jayesh Joshi of Virgo Specialities, who allegedly supplied equipment like silt pusher machines to various contractors assigned to desilting the Mithi river. Rejecting their bail pleas in separate orders, additional chief judicial magistrate Vinod Patil said, "It is the case of the prosecution that the accused, by using his influence and maintaining good terms with officers of the municipal corporation, caused loss... and grabbed some amounts... If the present accused is released on bail, the possibility of causing a hurdle in the investigation cannot be ruled out." BMC officers — Prashant Tayshete, deputy chief engineer of stormwater drains dept (Operation & Maintenance) and Prashant Ramugade, deputy chief engineer of Mithi River Development Project — have moved the sessions court seeking anticipatory bail. It is the case of the prosecution that Joshi is the mastermind and he used his influence on the officers. Seeking bail, Kadam's lawyer submitted that since the prosecution's case relies solely on documentary evidence, his custody is not warranted. It was also submitted that he did not receive a single rupee and is neither a director nor a partner in Virgo or Woder. The lawyer claimed that Kadam was made a scapegoat. Joshi submitted that he neither received any illegal gains, nor did he or his company receive extra margin, as alleged by the prosecution. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The prosecution alleged that he used "undue influence" and "contacts" with MCGM officers to interfere with the tender process, even incurring expenses for their tours to Delhi. It was contended that Joshi influenced the modification of tender conditions to favour the inclusion of specific machines, thereby causing wrongful loss to the govt and the public at large.
