CBI Books Mumbai Port Authority Officials in Bribery Case

The420.in
3 Min Read

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an FIR against five individuals—including three officials of the Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA)—for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹5 lakh in exchange for permitting a vessel to sail from the port. The accused include A Pal, S Khandway, and U Oak, who are senior MbPA personnel, along with two private individuals linked to the transaction.

The incident dates back to April 2023 when a multinational company’s vessel, docked at the port, was due to shift from D3 Anchorage to X3 Anchorage. The vessel’s movement was allegedly stalled under the pretext of pending clearance from A Pal, an MbPA official responsible for the operation. Pal reportedly twisted his ankle during his shift but completed his duties by 8 a.m. the following day. Despite the vessel being ready to sail by 4:30 p.m. on April 7, it was detained for lacking a No Objection Certificate (NoC) from Pal.

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₹5 Lakh Bribe Transferred to Relative’s Account

According to the FIR filed by the Chief Vigilance Officer of the MbPA, the vessel’s protective agent—a multinational firm with offices in Chennai—was asked to pay a bribe of $6,000 (approximately ₹5 lakh) to secure the NoC. The payment was reportedly made from the company’s bank account to an account held by a relative of Pal’s wife.

Following the transaction, the vessel’s captain and the protective agent submitted an undertaking to MbPA on April 8, accepting responsibility for any complications arising from Pal’s injury. Only after the submission of this document did the port assign a pilot for the vessel’s departure. The ship eventually set sail at 2:45 p.m., after final clearance was received.

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The CBI has initiated proceedings under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act, including charges of criminal conspiracy, bribery, and dereliction of duty by public servants. Investigators have already carried out searches at several locations associated with the accused to gather evidence.

Further allegations include procedural violations by Khandway and Oak, who allegedly collaborated with Pal by withholding information from the Deputy Conservator—the only officer authorized to formally detain vessels. Their failure to report the vessel’s hold-up to the appropriate authority raised suspicion and became a critical point in the CBI’s preliminary findings.

As the probe continues, the CBI aims to uncover the broader network involved in facilitating illegal clearances and misusing authority within port operations. The case underscores the ongoing challenges of corruption in maritime logistics and government-linked infrastructure services.

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