₹800-Crore JNPA Dredging Scam: ED Registers ECIR, Launches Money Laundering Probe

Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a money laundering investigation into the alleged Rs 800 crore corruption case related to the capital dredging project at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) in Navi Mumbai.

According to sources, the ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) on Friday, following the predicate offence registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 18. The financial probe agency is now investigating the suspected laundering of proceeds generated through inflated project costs and other alleged irregularities.

The alleged scam took place well before the present chairman Unmesh Wagh assumed office. "The allegation is that instead of going in for quantity-based dredging, JNPA floated a tender based on assured depth," an official told FPJ on Saturday.

"The JNPA wanted to float a quantity-based tender during the relevant period but the government policy of depth-based tender prevented it. The decision was taken with the approval of the Union cabinet. So the allegation of pecuniary loss is absurd. The truth will come out soon," the official added.

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