File report on your probe into BMC road scam, HC tells state

THE BENCH ALSO DIRECTED THE ECONOMIC OFFENCES WING TO EXPEDITE ITS PROBE INTO THE SCAM

The Bombay high court has directed the Maharashtra government to file within two weeks, an affidavit listing down the progress made in its investigation into last year’s Rs353-crore Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) road scam.

A bench of justices VM Kanade and CV Bhadang also directed the economic offences wing (EOW) to expedite its probe into the scam.

The directions came after the EOW submitted in a sealed cover, a report of its “interim probe” into the scam. The bench noted that while the EOW’S report showed that “some steps had been taken ” the state must tell its part to identify those responsible for the scam and also, to keep a check on preventing such incidents in future.

The EOW also informed the court that 24 people had already been arrested in the case and that “further investigations were on.”

The BMC counsel submitted that the corporation had already suspended 14 of its staff members for their roles in the scam.

On the previous hearing, the court had observed that the state what the corporation was doing” by simply stating that the corporation functions autonomously. It had also said that the state must take steps to monitor the corporation’s expenditures on public welfare projects.

The court was hearing a plea filed by Vivekanand Gupta highlighting serious irregularities by the BMC in construction of roads and desilting of drains between 2013 and 2016.

In June 2015, Mumbai had witnessed massive flooding and waterlogging after heavy showers. This was despite the BMC’S claims of having completed premonsoon desilting and road repair work.

HC is likely to take up the matter for further hearing on April 12