Bombay HC asks for police probe report in desilting scam involving civic officials

The Bombay High Court has asked the police to submit in a sealed envelope the details of investigations it has carried out in the alleged desilting scam which involves BMC officials. A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Anuja Prabhudessai gave the direction while hearing a public interest litigation filed by a Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), member, Vivekanand Gupta. Gupta in his petition has stated that he is a municipal rate payer, concerned about the welfare of the city and its citizens.

He is a practicing advocate and social/political activist and an officer bearer of BJP Mumbai.

Gupta has sought transfer of probe in the road and desilting contract scam be shifted from city police to Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB), saying it would expose the “unholy nexus” between contractors and civic staff. It further says that 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. Subsequently, the Commissioner ordered filing of FIR against contractors involved in the ‘Desilting scam.