Mumbai, Jul 10 (PTI) BJP and Congress members in the Maharashtra legislative council on Thursday demanded that Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) be invoked against the accused involved in alleged irregularities in the desilting of Mithi river in Mumbai.

BJP member Rajhans Singh raised the issue in the House and said crore of rupees have been spent on desilting the Mithi river.

The Mithi originates from the Vihar lake and has an inlet from the Powai lake further downstream. It merges with the Arabian Sea near Mahim. After the 2005 floods in Mumbai, the work of desilting the Mithi river was undertaken.

Industries Minister Uday Samant, who was speaking on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde, said before the tender for desilting Mithi was awarded in 2013, the silt was being dumped at the Deonar dumping ground.

Post-2013, the contractors were supposed to take care of the silt, he said, adding that 16,70,000 metric tonnes of silt was removed from the river, but it was not found dumped anywhere. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Mumbai police's Economic Offence Wing is probing the case. Two persons have been arrested in this connection while some have secured anticipatory bail. Some of them involved in irregularities have opened night clubs and chain of hotels, the minister said.

Congress' Jagtap said if the accused are involved in the fraud of crores of rupees of people, then the government can invoke the MCOCA.

"This is an organised crime...This is a cartel of officials and contractors. Economic offences also come under its (MCOCA's) ambit," he said.

Prasad Lad (BJP) said the SIT is probing the case and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) also has taken suo motu cognisance.

He said the scam runs into over Rs 1,000 crore.

"The MCOCA should be invoked against the accused and their properties should be sealed," Lad demanded.

Minister Samant said the state government will not rest till it reaches the bottom of the case. PTI PR NP

MCOCA invocation urged against alleged organised river desilting fraud, with criminal probes and asset sealing sought Legislators urged invocation of MCOCA against accused officials and contractors alleged to form an organised cartel in the Mithi river desilting scheme, seeking asset sealing and criminal action. The Special Investigation Team of the Mumbai police's Economic Offence Wing is probing the matter; two arrests were made and some accused obtained anticipatory bail. The Enforcement Directorate has taken suo motu cognisance. Officials reported large quantities of removed silt could not be traced to disposal sites and noted commercial enterprises opened by some accused.