ACB told to disclose toll inquiry report

Mumbai: Following a complaint alleging irregularities in the collection of toll on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, the Bombay high court (HC) on Thursday sought all records pertaining to a discreet inquiry conducted by the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) in 2017 into the irregularities. The petitioners have claimed that the contractor had already recovered the amounts he was promised and was now collecting excess amounts in connivance with the authorities.

The state government on Thursday submitted a one-page document giving details of the ACB inquiry to the bench. However, after going through it, the court stated it was vague and sought all records to ascertain the status of toll collection on the expressway.

 A division bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Riyaz Chagla was hearing public interest litigations filed by activists Pravin Wategaonkar, Sriniwas Ghanekar and two others, regarding pecuniary benefits being pocketed by the contractor after he had collected the promised amount before the expiry of the contract period. The activists had sought interim relief in the form of appointing a receiver to collect the toll as well as ascertain the amount being earned on a daily basis to prove their claims.

 According to the petitioners, the contractor was supposed to collect `2,860 crore during the 15-year contract period from 2004 to 2019 but had reached the figure in November 2016 itself and hence was making illegal gains ever since. They had filed a complaint with the ACB in March 2017, following which the ACB conducted a discrete inquiry.

On Thursday, when the matter came up for hearing, the ACB submitted a one-page report of the discreet inquiry. But the court was not convinced of the findings of the inquiry and said it was vague and hence sought all-records pertaining to the inquiry and posted the matter for hearing on June 19. The petitioners, they hoped that their plea to appoint a receiver to collect the toll would be heard in the next hearing.