PIL seeks transfer of probe in Road scam and Desilting scam

A PIL in the Bombay High Court has sought transfer of probe from city police to Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) in the alleged road contract and desilting scams, saying it would expose the "unholy nexus" between contractors and civic staff.

The PIL, filed by Vivekananda Gupta, is placed for hearing before a division bench of Justices V M Kanade and M S Sonak on July 12.

The petition said there was water logging in the city on July 19 and 20 last year due to heavy rains following which Municipal Commissioner (MC) had ordered an inquiry into the desilting contract work.

The probe revealed "unholy nexus" of contractors and civic officials, the petition alleged.

Subsequently, the Municipal Commissioner ordered filing of FIR against contractors involved in the 'Desilting scam', also known as 'nalla safai scam'.

The chief engineer (Vigilance) and few officials of MCGM (Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai) were suspended. The 'nalla safai scam' exposed the fraud and nexus of contractors with MCGM officials, the PIL alleged.

In another development in the 'road contract scam', a probe was ordered by Municipal Commissioner on a complaint received from BJP MP and the Mayor.

The probe pertained to the construction of roads during 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16. The interim probe revealed serious irregularities in the road work. The municipal chief ordered registration of an FIR.

The FIR named six accused including third party road auditors and chief engineer (Roads) was suspended immediately.

Both the FIRs were registered with Azad Maidan Police station, said the petition and demanded that the probe be transferred to ACB in view of alleged nexus of contractors with civic staff, the PIL demanded.

Later, the FIR pertaining to the 'Desilting scam' was transferred from Azad Maidan Police Station to the Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police.