The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against former officials of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and Tata Consulting Engineers, along with two dredging companies, over alleged irregularities amounting to Rs 800 crore in the Capital Dredging Project near Mumbai.
Following a three-year preliminary inquiry, the CBI uncovered inflated estimates, favouritism towards international bidders, undue advantages extended to contractors, and suppression of independent expert reports.
The FIR names Sunil Kumar Madabhavi, former chief engineer of JNPT, Devdutt Bose, former project director of TCE, Boskalis Smit India LLP, Jan De Nul Dredging India Pvt Ltd, and other unidentified public servants under IPC Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating), along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
On Wednesday, the CBI conducted searches at five locations in Mumbai and Chennai, including the residences of Madabhavi and Bose, and the offices of private companies. The searches yielded documents related to the Capital Dredging Project, digital devices, and evidence of investments made by public servants.
The CBI's investigation revealed a criminal conspiracy between JNPT officials and private individuals, including TCE executives, resulting in a wrongful loss of Rs 365.90 crore for phase-I and Rs 438 crore for phase-II due to over-dredging. The project aimed to deepen and widen the navigational channel shared with Mumbai Port to accommodate larger cargo ships.
The inquiry also uncovered violations in rate fixation for dredging different types of rocks, project delays, false claims of Rs 348 crore by contractors, excess payments of Rs 430 crore, and manipulation of pre-dredge surveys using less accurate software. The investigation continues as the CBI examines the recovered documents. No immediate response was available from the accused companies.
(With inputs from PTI)
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