Fresh Arrests Deepen the Mithi River Scam Web
The Mithi River desilting scam has taken yet another dramatic turn, with Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) arresting two more contractors. This brings the total number of arrests to five in one of the city’s biggest civic corruption cases.
According to investigators, the two newly arrested contractors played a major role in forging documents that claimed desilting work was completed — even though not a single bit of silt was actually removed from the river.
The Mithi River, running through key parts of Mumbai including BKC and Kurla, has long been at the center of flooding issues during monsoons. But now, it has also become a symbol of how deeply corruption can seep into essential civic operations.
What the Police Found
Fake MoUs, Forged Log Sheets and Nonexistent Work
Police say that the contractors submitted an entire set of forged documents to show that silt was removed and dumped on private lands. These documents included:
- Fake Memoranda of Understanding
- Fabricated log sheets
- False dumping records
- Forged landowner signatures
In reality, officers say no work was ever done.
A senior EOW officer confirmed the new arrests:
“We have arrested Mahesh Purohit of MB Brothers and Sunil Upadhyay of SNB Infrastructure. Both were added as accused in the supplementary charge-sheet filed in November.”
These arrests expose just one layer of a scam that allegedly flourished for a decade, from 2013 to 2023, draining public funds meant to stop Mumbai from drowning during heavy rains.
A Scam That Spanned 10 Years
How Crores Were Siphoned Off
The desilting scam represents a systematic network of contractors, middlemen and civic officials who allegedly pocketed crores while the river continued to choke.
Police found that:
- MB Brothers secured contracts worth ₹23.43 crore between 2014 and 2020.
- SNB Infrastructure bagged contracts worth ₹27.79 crore in the same period.
Despite these massive allocations, large sections of the 18-km-long river remained clogged, contributing to severe flooding year after year.
Statements That Exposed the Frauds
Investigators have recorded statements from 14 landowners whose properties were supposedly rented for dumping silt. Many revealed that they never rented their land and that their signatures had been forged.
This testimony became crucial evidence, showing how contractors allegedly used fake land agreements to justify payments from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The Earlier Arrests
Before the latest arrests, police had already taken three other individuals into custody:
- Ketan Kadam, a middleman described as a key player
- Jay Joshi, another middleman accused of helping forge documents
- Shersingh Rathore, a contractor directly linked to the operation
According to the FIR filed in May, Kadam and Joshi worked with BMC officials to manipulate tender conditions in favor of their firm, Maptrop Services. This allegedly allowed them to create a monopoly over silt pusher manufacturing — ensuring contracts repeatedly landed in their hands.
Names From Outside the Civic System Also Surface
As the investigation expanded, several well-known individuals were also questioned, including actor Dino Morea and his brother Santino. While no charges have been made against them so far, their names appeared in connection with the two alleged masterminds, prompting the EOW to verify financial and operational links.
The probe has pulled in business figures, contractors and even senior civic officials, showing how wide the scam’s influence may have been.
SIT Formed After Public Outcry
In August 2024, following heated debates in the state legislative council, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to dig deeper into the allegations.
The SIT has been reviewing the entire chain — from tender announcements to payment releases — in what is now seen as one of Mumbai’s most significant civic corruption cases in recent years.
So far, 13 individuals have been named in the case, including three civic officials. Police say their collective actions led to a loss of ₹65.54 crore to the BMC and taxpayers.
Why the Scam Matters
When Corruption Becomes a Hazard
The Mithi River is not just a water body; it is a lifeline that keeps parts of Mumbai from flooding. During monsoons, rainwater drains into it from several catchment areas. If the riverbed is clogged with silt, garbage and construction waste, the water spills into nearby areas, leaving homes, offices and roads submerged.
Every year, Mumbaikars suffer waterlogging and massive traffic disruption. Yet, despite crores allocated for desilting, the river remains heavily polluted and silted.
The scam reveals that while the city trusted its contractors and officials to protect its infrastructure, many instead chose to profit from the chaos.
A Deeper Look at How the Scam Worked
Step-by-Step Flow of Corruption
Investigators believe the scam followed a clear pattern:
- Contractors received desilting orders worth crores.
- Instead of removing silt, they prepared forged paperwork to show work was completed.
- Fake MoUs with landowners were created to show dumping sites.
- Log sheets were fabricated to detail imaginary trucks and workers.
- Civic officials allegedly approved the paperwork without inspections.
- Payments were released based on forged records.
By the time audits raised questions, most of the money had already been paid out.
The Bigger Question: How Was This Allowed for 10 Years?
Every year, Mumbai experiences heavy monsoon flooding, and every year, desilting is promised. Yet, despite all the assurances, the Mithi River remains clogged.
The long-running nature of the scam raises serious concerns:
- Why were physical inspections not conducted?
- How did forged signatures on MoUs go unnoticed?
- Why were contractors allowed repeated tenders despite poor performance?
- How deeply were officials involved in approving fraudulent work?
These questions now sit at the heart of the investigation.
What Happens Next?
The EOW, along with the SIT, is expected to:
- Make further arrests
- Trace money trails
- Identify all officials who enabled the scam
- Examine tenders issued over ten years
- Recommend systemic changes to prevent future fraud
The case is far from over. With each arrest, the layers of corruption grow more visible.
Will This Finally Change How Mumbai Protects Itself?
As Mumbai continues facing monsoon floods each year, the Mithi River desilting scam highlights an uncomfortable truth: development and safety often get compromised when corruption enters the system.
Whether this investigation finally leads to accountability and reform remains the question Mumbai is waiting to see answered.
