The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a case against former officials of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), Tata Consulting Engineers (TCE), and two dredging companies over irregularities worth more than ₹800 crore in a dredging project near Mumbai.
What’s the Case About?
The case is related to a Capital Dredging Project, which aimed to deepen and widen the sea route for big cargo ships. This project had two phases:
- Phase I: 2003 to 2014
- Phase II: 2013 to 2019
The CBI says that former JNPT officials, along with people from TCE and private companies, were involved in a criminal conspiracy. They allegedly:
- Made inflated cost estimates
- Helped certain foreign companies win contracts
- Ignored expert reports
- Allowed joint ventures unfairly
- Paid contractors extra without actual work
- Used low-quality software for survey work
Key People Named in the FIR:
- Sunil Kumar Madabhavi, ex-chief engineer of JNPT
- Devdutt Bose, ex-project director of TCE
- Boskalis Smit India LLP
- Jan De Nul Dredging India Pvt Ltd
- Other unnamed public officials
They are booked under sections for cheating, criminal conspiracy, and corruption.
What Did the CBI Find?
- Wrongful loss of ₹365.90 crore in Phase I
- Wrongful loss of ₹438 crore in Phase II
- Total irregularities: over ₹800 crore
The CBI says TCE was responsible for preparing the project plan and supervising the work. But they, along with JNPT officials, allegedly set up the bidding process in a way that favored specific foreign companies.
There were also delays, false claims, extra payments, and manipulated surveys, according to the CBI.
CBI Raids and Investigation
After registering the case, the CBI searched five places in Mumbai and Chennai, including the homes of the accused and offices of private companies.
They recovered:
- Important documents
- Digital devices
- Proof of investments made by public officials
These are now being examined. So far, there has been no official response from the companies involved.
