A case involving alleged corruption and financial misconduct amounting to over ₹800 crore has been registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against former officials of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and representatives of three private firms. The irregularities have been linked to a capital dredging project executed in two phases between 2003 and 2019.
The dredging work had been undertaken to enhance the depth of the navigational channel, enabling the entry of larger cargo vessels and improving operational efficiency. However, several procedural and financial inconsistencies were discovered, prompting a preliminary enquiry by the CBI in mid-2022.
Based on the findings, an FIR has been filed against S Madabhavi, who served as the chief manager at JNPA during the period in question, Tata Consulting Engineers (TCE), its then project director, Boskalis Smit India LLP, Jan De Nul Dredging India Pvt Ltd, and unidentified public and private individuals. It has been indicated that the initial report for the project was prepared in 2003, but actual execution was delayed until 2010. The project, divided into two overlapping phases, was allegedly handled in a manner that violated norms set by the Competition Commission. TCE had been responsible for preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) as well as for project management and tender oversight.
Investigations have revealed that tenders for the second phase were designed with restrictive conditions that favoured specific international contractors. Provisions such as the requirement for uninterrupted dredging during the monsoon period were reportedly inserted to disqualify others, although the work itself was initiated post-monsoon. A joint venture of Boskalis Smit India LLP and Jan De Nul India Pvt Ltd had been awarded the contract in 2017, valued at ₹1,963 crore. Approximately ₹1,522 crore had been paid to the contractors based on progress reports submitted by the consulting firm.
Evidence has suggested that excess payments of ₹365.90 crore and ₹438 crore were made in phase 1 and phase 2 respectively, raising concerns about inflated billing and misreporting of dredging activity. The documents recovered during searches in Mumbai and Chennai are currently under forensic examination. As of now, no official response has been received from the individuals or companies named in the FIR. Further investigations are underway, and more revelations are expected in the coming weeks. The case has underscored growing concerns over accountability in large-scale infrastructure projects in the maritime sector.
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