Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India]: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police has unearthed a ₹565.48 crore fraud linked to irregularities in redevelopment projects involving nine properties across the city. The findings suggest a deep nexus of collusion between municipal officials and private contractors, with fraudulent Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) at the center of the case.
The EOW initiated a special investigation on March 20, 2024, under Case No. 48/2024, after receiving complaints from property owners. Officials revealed on Tuesday that certain MoUs had been executed unilaterally, while others were signed by unauthorized individuals. In some cases, even when contractors had signed the documents, the terms were found to be highly skewed and exploitative.
“MoUs for a total of 9 properties were executed without proper authorization. Some were signed by individuals lacking legal authority, while others, though legally signed, were found to have severely one-sided clauses,” stated the Mumbai Police.
The probe has implicated former Assistant Engineers, officials from the municipal water pipeline department, and senior officers from the Mumbai Municipal Corporation. A co-director of a private company has also been named as a key player in the alleged fraud.
The police registered a First Information Report (FIR) on April 6, 2024, at Azad Maidan Police Station under CR No. 74/2024, invoking IPC Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (use of forged document), and 120(B) (criminal conspiracy).
The preliminary investigation reveals extensive collusion between internal municipal officers and contractors. Forged documents, manipulated MoUs, and unlawful approvals are at the heart of the alleged scam.
“Evidence points toward a coordinated fraud involving forgery, criminal conspiracy, and misuse of public authority,” the police noted, adding that the investigation remains ongoing.
This case marks another blow to the credibility of Mumbai’s redevelopment ecosystem and raises concerns about governance lapses in public-private infrastructure partnerships.