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Hindustan Times
11 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Mithi River desilting fraud: Court refuses pre-arrest bail to BMC officer Prashant Tayshete
MUMBAI: A special court on Saturday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Prashant Tayshete, one of the three Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officers booked in connection with the alleged irregularities in executing contracts for desilting the Mithi River. The case involves alleged irregularities in executing contracts for desilting the Mithi River. (Raju Shinde/Hindustan Times) Special judge NG Shukla granted Tayshete, who works in the BMC's stormwater drains department, interim protection from arrest for two weeks to allow him to approach the high court for relief. It isn't clear why his anticipatory bail plea was rejected, as the detailed court order is not yet available. Tayshete was one of the 13 people and entities named in the FIR registered by the Mumbai police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) for allegedly causing a loss of ₹ 65.54 crore to the BMC while executing contracts to desilt the Mithi River between 2013 and 2023. According to the EOW, Tayshete and two other accused BMC officers allegedly tailored the tender for the desilting contracts to benefit Kochi-based Matprop Technical Services Pvt Ltd, resulting in the company's monopoly over the contracts. When the BMC's contractors approached Matprop for desilting equipment, they were directed to approach alleged intermediaries Jay Joshi and Ketan Kadam, according to the EOW. The duo, in connivance with senior Matprop executives, allegedly rented the machines at inflated rates. The accused also allegedly fudged records to increase the amount of silt to be removed from the Mithi River to benefit certain contractors and the rates they were supposed to be paid. Tayshete had moved the court seeking protection from arrest on May 19. His counsel, advocate Vaibhav Punekar, submitted that Tayshete looked after stormwater drainage and was only involved in desilting a minor portion of the river, along with transporting the sludge removed for disposal. Punekar also told the court that Tayshete had no knowledge about the alleged fraud related to renting desilting machines. During his visit to Kerala, he was only tasked with machine demonstration work and submitted a report regarding that, Tayshete claimed in his plea. He was not connected with any forged memorandums of understanding and has not received any money related to the concerned work, the plea said. Requesting pre-arrest bail, Tayshete's lawyer argued that his client was a retired BMC officer who cannot influence any witnesses and tamper with any documents. He added that no case of cheating, forgery or conspiracy can be made out against him. Earlier this month, the court had granted bail to Joshi, saying there is no evidence to show that he was an alleged intermediary involved in compelling contractors to hire machines at inflated rates.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Mithi River desilting fraud: ED questions Dino Morea again, seeks further clarifications
Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned actor Dino Morea again on Thursday as part of its money-laundering investigation related to the alleged irregularities in contracts to desilt the Mithi River, which caused a loss of over ₹65 crore to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The 49-year-old was at the ED's office at Ballard Estate in south Mumbai for around six-and-a-half hours, during which investigators sought further information and clarifications from him, agency sources said. 'There were certain details that we needed to ascertain and verify. And for that, he was called again. The probe is still at a preliminary stage,' said an ED official, requesting anonymity. Morea arrived at the ED office around 10.30 am and left around 5 pm. The Mumbai unit of the central agency had previously summoned the actor on June 12 to record his statement under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED is investigating whether Morea and his brother Santino were involved in the alleged fraud or if they were linked to any part of the proceeds of crime generated by people and entities being probed in the case. The brothers have denied all allegations of their involvement in the case. Earlier, on June 6, the ED carried out searches at 18 locations across Mumbai, Kochi and Thrissur in connection with the investigation. The locations searched included the residential and/or office premises of Dino and Santino Morea, BMC engineer Prashant Ramgude, civic contractor Bhupendra Purohit, alleged intermediaries Jay Joshi and Ketan Kadam, and Matprop Technical Services Pvt Ltd, a Kochi-based company that rented machinery and equipment for the desilting work. According to the ED, the Morea brothers are allegedly close associates of Kadam. The ED's probe is based on Mumbai police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) case, which it had registered in May and had subsequently questioned the Morea brothers last month. The EOW booked 13 people and entities in the case, including three BMC officials, for allegedly causing a wrongful loss of ₹65.54 crore to the BMC. On June 7, the ED said that its investigation and search operations had prima facie indicated that the accused people and others allegedly colluded to form a cartel with the intent to manipulate BMC's tenders related to desilting the Mithi River. 'This action effectively conferred a monopoly in [the] award of desilting contracts of Mithi River and caused payments at inflated rates for desilting works, resulting in undue gains to the contractors and associated parties, thereby causing financial loss to the public exchequer,' the agency had said in a statement. These undue financial gains were concealed by layering them through certain shell companies by the accused persons and others, the agency added. During the searches, the ED seized ₹7 lakh in cash and froze 22 bank accounts/fixed deposits and a demat account. The total amount seized or frozen is more than ₹1.25 crore so far, the agency said. Certain digital devices and incriminating documents were also seized that appeared to be relevant for further proceedings under the PMLA, according to the ED.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Mithi river desilting scam; Dino Morea appears before ED again; read more
(Picture Courtesy: Facebook) Bollywood actor Dino Morea appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Mumbai on Thursday as part of an ongoing probe into a suspected Rs 65.54 crore money laundering scam tied to desilting contracts for the Mithi river. As reported by PTI, the 49-year-old actor reached the ED office at Ballard Estate around 10:30 AM following a fresh summons, officials confirmed. ED probes alleged financial links Dino Morea's statement is being recorded after officials reportedly found financial transactions allegedly connecting him to key accused individuals already arrested by the Mumbai Police 's Economic Offences Wing (EOW). Earlier, on June 12, the actor was questioned by the ED for several hours. Investigators are also examining transactions involving a company linked to his brother Santino Morea. Searches over 15 locations Metro…In Dino | Song - Mann Ye Mera (Lyrical) The ED conducted searches on June 6 at over 15 locations across Mumbai and Kochi, including Dino Morea's Bandra residence, premises linked to Santino, and several BMC officials and contractors. Kochi-based Matprop Technical Services Pvt Ltd, a firm that allegedly supplied machinery for the desilting work, was among the searched locations. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Order New Blinds Online & Get $199 Home Installation Learn More Undo Scam rooted in BMC contracts The case originates from an FIR registered by the Mumbai Police EOW in May, naming 13 individuals, including contractors and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials. The FIR alleges that between 2017 and 2023, tenders were manipulated to favor specific machinery suppliers. Contractors allegedly raised fake bills for transporting sludge extracted from the river. The Mithi River desilting initiative was launched after the devastating 2005 Mumbai floods. Middlemen and machinery rentals under lens Investigators believe that Ketan Kadam and Jai Joshi, both arrested, played a key role as middlemen. The Morea brothers were reportedly questioned over their links with Kadam and other financial ties related to the case. Notably, Dino Morea's assets were previously attached in 2021 in connection with another money laundering probe. Work front On the professional front, Dino Morea's recent outing is the Akshay Kumar starrer comedy flick 'Housefull 5', which is turning out to be a blockbuster.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Mithi River desilting fraud: ED to question Dino Morea again
MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has called actor Dino Morea for questioning again on Wednesday as part of its money-laundering investigation related to the alleged irregularities in contracts to desilt the Mithi River, which caused a loss of over ₹65 crore to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), agency sources said. The Mumbai unit of the central agency had previously summoned Morea on June 12 to record his statement under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED is investigating whether Morea and his brother Santino were involved in the alleged fraud or if they were linked to any part of the proceeds of crime generated by people and entities being probed in the case. The agency wants further clarifications from Morea regarding certain financial transactions, which is why he has been summoned again, sources said, adding that the investigation is still in a preliminary stage. Dino and Santino Morea have denied all allegations of their involvement in the case. Earlier, on June 6, the ED carried out searches at 18 locations across Mumbai, Kochi and Thrissur in connection with the investigation. The locations searched included the residential and/or office premises of Dino and Santino Morea, BMC engineer Prashant Ramgude, civic contractor Bhupendra Purohit, alleged intermediaries Jay Joshi and Ketan Kadam, and Matprop Technical Services Pvt Ltd, a Kochi-based company that rented machinery and equipment for the desilting work. According to the ED, the Morea brothers are close associates of Kadam. The ED's probe is based on Mumbai police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) case, which it had registered in May and had subsequently questioned the Morea brothers last month. The EOW booked 13 people and entities in the case, including three BMC officials, for allegedly causing a wrongful loss of ₹65.54 crore to the BMC. On June 7, the ED said that its investigation and search operations had prima facie indicated that the accused people and others allegedly colluded to form a cartel with the intent to manipulate BMC's tenders related to desilting the Mithi River. 'This action effectively conferred a monopoly in [the] award of desilting contracts of Mithi river and caused payments at inflated rates for desilting works, resulting in undue gains to the contractors and associated parties, thereby causing financial loss to the public exchequer,' the agency had said in a statement. These undue financial gains were concealed by layering them through certain shell companies by the accused persons and others, the agency added.
The Hindu
13-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Community Resource Efficiency Hub in Kerala's Ernakulam to support 25 women-led coastal enterprises build climate-resilient business models
A Community Resource Efficiency (CRE) hub in North Paravur will be commissioned next week to help 25 women MSME units operating along the coastal panchayats of Ernakulam district in Kerala build a sustainable business model with built-in climate resilience. The initiative, the first in Kerala to be funded by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) under its Smart Village project, will be executed with the support of Equinoct, a Kochi-based community-sourced modelling solution provider, and with the active collaboration with the not-for-profit organisations, the Resilient Destinations Foundation and Puthenvelikkara-based Community Resource Centre, a people's initiative for creating a sustainable community. A five-tonne capacity deep freezer, a 2-tonne capacity dryer, and two electric autorickshaws, all powered by solar energy, have been installed at the hub to help scale up enterprises, which are mostly into producing fish, agriculture, and dairy products. Converting them from enterprises without any definite model into sustainable ones run on green energy technologies remains at the heart of the project. 'The hub proposes to help these enterprises develop into professionally run businesses complete with a digital platform to leverage the scope of e-commerce to increase their market exposure. The entrepreneurs will be trained on maintaining accounts, tapping the benefits of bulk purchases, better branding and marketing of their products, etc. The goal is to enhance their livelihood capacity through a climate-resilient business model,' said C. Jayaraman, managing director of Equinoct. Plans are also afoot to help evolve a green label for these products by highlighting how green energy technologies are deployed in their production and distribution, thus enhancing their market potential. The hub will also mediate to help the enterprises avail of short-term loans at low interest rates through tie-ups with various agencies, said K.G. Sreeja, project director. Equinoct will serve as a technology partner of the hub to implement the project with the support of IEEE Smart Village. The hub, complete with its assets, will have to be handed over to a community-run non-profit organisation within a year. It could be an organisation made collectively of the 25 benefitting enterprises or a consortium of enterprises, the Resilient Destinations Foundation and CRC Puthenvelikkara, though it is yet to be finalised. 'There is an even bigger goal of developing it into a climate resilience hub which can help communities to build resilience to climate risks in the coastal region in the long run, provided there are enabling circumstances, institutional collaborations and government support, including funding,' said Mr. Jayaraman.
