Mumbai: BJP leader Prasad Lad on Wednesday appeared before the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) as part of the continuing investigation into the alleged multi-crore Mithi River desilting scam. Lad reached the EOW office shortly after noon and remained inside until around 4:30 PM, marking nearly five hours of detailed questioning by investigators.
Lad urged officers to broaden the scope of the inquiry to include an additional, unverified weighbridge, which he claimed could reveal further irregularities. Investigators have so far tracked movement of trucks carrying silt between 2020 and 2023 through the Dahisar and Mankhurd weighbridges, identifying 8–9 contractors linked to the transportation activity. Lad, however, asserted that the network may be larger, telling officers that more than nine contractors could be involved in the alleged fraud.
Speaking to the media after his appearance, Lad signaled that major disclosures were imminent. He stated, “The main mastermind behind this scam will be exposed soon, and action for his arrest will begin. My only effort is to protect the taxpayers’ money of Mumbai and ensure justice for every citizen.”
Lad also questioned the authenticity of the figures presented over the years regarding the desilting work. Pointing toward the massive gap in documentation, he said, “It is claimed that 20 lakh metric tonnes of silt was removed in recent years. But there is no trace of where this silt was dumped. The locations shown now have high-rise buildings. If 20 lakh metric tonnes had genuinely been deposited at a landfill, a new city would have formed there. This is nothing but blatant falsehood. Whoever is guilty must face strict action.”
