CBI books Mumbai Port officials, agent in ₹5 lakh bribery case linked to vessel delay

CBI books five, including three Mumbai Port Authority officials, for allegedly accepting a ₹5 lakh bribe to clear a vessel's departure two years ago.

MUMBAI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked five individuals—including three officials from the Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA)—for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹5 lakh to allow a vessel to sail from the port two years ago.

CBI books Mumbai Port officials, agent in ₹5 lakh bribery case linked to vessel delay

According to the CBI’s FIR, the bribe was paid by the vessel’s protective agent, which is a multinational firm with its Indian office in Chennai. The vessel’s officials were told that a No Objection Certificate (NoC) from the official, A Pal, was needed before the vessel could depart. He allegedly demanded a bribe of $6,000 (approximately ₹5 lakh) to issue the clearance.

The complaint, filed by the Chief Vigilance Officer of MbPA, states that the vessel was scheduled to move from D3 Anchorage to X3 Anchorage on the evening of April 6, 2023. Pal, who was tasked with supervising the shift, allegedly twisted his ankle on a tarpaulin near the vessel’s exit. He completed his shift at the Dock Master Control Station by 8 am the next day, April 7.

By 4:30 pm that day, the vessel was ready to sail. However, it was detained, allegedly under the pretext that Pal’s NoC was pending. Later that evening, the protective agent transferred ₹5 lakh from the company’s account to a bank account in the name of a relative of Pal’s wife, according to the CBI.

The following morning, April 8, the vessel’s master and the protective agent submitted an undertaking to MbPA, taking responsibility for any future issues related to the injury. Only after this document was submitted was a pilot assigned for departure at 10 am. The vessel finally left the port at 2:45 pm, after some port clearance delays.

The CBI has also named two other MbPA officials—S Khandway and U Oak—who allegedly colluded with Pal and failed to follow due procedure, including informing the Deputy Conservator, the authorised officer for detaining vessels.

Searches were conducted at multiple locations linked to the accused, and the investigation was launched after securing approval under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The agency has booked the five under charges of criminal conspiracy, bribery, and misconduct by public servants.