Mumbai, Jul 17 (PTI) The scope of the probe into the alleged scam in the desisting of Mithi river in Mumbai will be extended up to year 2006, Maharashtra minister Uday Samant said on Thursday.
Replying to a question in the legislative council, Samant said a Special Investigation Team probing the matter from 2012 to 2021 has scanned over 3,44,000 photographs of dumpers but none had silt collected from the Mithi river.
The Shiv Sena leader was replying on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde.
In a written reply, Shinde said the Economic Offence Wing probing the case had sent a letter to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and sought a list of contractors appointed to desilt the river between 2006 to 2023.
Excess silt accumulated in the riverbed over the years was one of the reasons of flooding in Mumbai in 2005.
Raising the issue in the legislative council, Prasad Lad (BJP) said he has submitted documents related to alleged irregularities in the desilting process to the Mumbai police commissioner and the Enforcement Directorate.
He said the scope of the probe has to be extended till 2005-2006. Samant agreed to extend the scope of the probe to 2006.
The earlier scope of the probe was from 2013 to 2023.
Anil Parab of Shiv Sena (UBT) said although he wants those involved in the corruption to be face action, the motive behind raising the issue was to “malign someone”.
He was apparently referring to the BJP targeting the Shiv Sena (UBT) on the issue.
The undivided Shiv Sena controlled the BMC, the richest civic body in Asia, from 1997-2022.
This is not the first time Lad raised the issue in the House. On July 10, Lad had demanded the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) be invoked in the case.
The Enforcement Directorate is also probing the matter. PTI PR BNM
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