Middleman Ketan Kadam Seeks Bail in Rs 65 Crore Mithi River Desilting Scam

An individual accused of being a middleman in a Rs 65 crore scam involving the desilting contract for Mumbai's Mithi River has applied for bail in a sessions court. The accused, Ketan Kadam, had his bail plea heard by Additional Sessions Judge N G Shukla, who postponed the decision to June 27 after requesting a response from the prosecution.

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai police has charged 13 individuals, including contractors and civic officials, in connection with this alleged scam. The Mithi River, which serves as a stormwater drainage channel, was at the centre of this controversy. Kadam and another alleged middleman, Jay Joshi, were apprehended by the EOW. Joshi was granted bail earlier this month by the sessions court.

Allegations and Investigations

The police have accused Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials of manipulating the tender process to favour a specific machinery supplier for the desilting work. Contractors allegedly submitted fake bills for transporting sludge out of Mumbai, leading to a loss exceeding Rs 65.54 crore for the civic body. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also investigating money laundering aspects related to this case.

Bollywood actor Dino Morea has been questioned multiple times by both the ED and Mumbai police regarding this scam. The ED conducted searches on June 6 at over 15 locations in Mumbai and Kochi, including Morea's Bandra West residence and properties linked to his brother Santino, BMC officials, and contractors.

Legal Proceedings and Bail Attempts

This is Kadam's second attempt to secure bail after an earlier rejection by a magistrate's court. The court had previously denied his plea due to concerns that he might obstruct the ongoing investigation. The ED's case is based on an FIR filed by the EOW in May against 13 individuals concerning tenders awarded from 2017 to 2023 for desilting the Mithi River.

The investigation has revealed that fraudulent activities were carried out under these tenders, causing significant financial damage to the civic body. As legal proceedings continue, authorities are working to uncover more details about those involved in this extensive scam.

The case highlights ongoing issues with corruption and mismanagement in public contracts. Authorities are determined to hold accountable those responsible for exploiting public resources for personal gain.

With inputs from PTI