Anti Corruption Bureau to conduct open inquiry

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Monday directed the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) to conduct an open inquiry into the Kharghar toll scam within three months. It also directed the Public Works Department (PWD) to take permission from court before paying Rs 390 crore to the contractor as compensation.

Though the ACB had sought a period of six months to complete the inquiry, the division bench of Justice Ranjit More and Justice Anuja Prabhudesai refused to accept the plea and asked it to begin inquiry from March 27.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by social activist Pravin Wategaonkar alleging corruption and breach of rules in the tender process of Kharghar toll collection centre on Sion—Panvel highway and sought directions for the ACB to look into the issue. The petitioner alleged that the state had given the contract for toll collection in 2006 fraudulently causing losses to the state exchequer.

Mr. Wategaonkar has further alleged that the government is also considering paying the compensation amount for exempting lighter vehicles from paying toll. According to his claim, the PWD had denied tender forms of four contractors interested in bidding for collection of toll on the Sion—Panvel highway but without assigning any reasons.

The ACB sought time for inquiry into the allegations before registering an FIR, contending that the construction of the highway; the toll collection and so on are connected with the state PWD, MSRDC and other private and government agencies.

Also, the process of tendering, construction and so on involved highly technical issues hence they cited the necessity of an open inquiry before appropriate action is taken. The ACB is supposed to file  open inquiry report on July 10.