Google Maps nailed BMC road scam accused

Google Maps helped spot debris dumped by contractors, who had been claiming it had washed away in the rain, the Mumbai police said

Contractors, with the help of civic body officials, may have tried to hoodwink the BMC road scam inquiry committee and the Mumbai police about the quality of the work and the dumped debris. But the police claim to have ‘nailed the lies’ thanks to Google Maps.

A special team of the Mumbai police, investigating the Rs14 crore BMC road scam, have so far arrested 26 accused. (HT Photo)

A special team of the Mumbai police, investigating the Rs14 crore BMC road scam, have so far arrested 26 accused.

Read: Why shouldn’t road scam be treated as organised crime?

A senior level officer from the SIT, on condition of anonymity, said, “The inquiry by BMC officials didn’t get any concrete leads. The accused always claimed to have done the work according to their guidelines; and there was nothing concrete to file against them.” After this, the accused were questioned about the debris dumped by them in the past 13 months.

Read: Contractors named in road scam pocketed Rs 4,259 crore in 3 years

The contractors claimed they dumped the debris in Kolkhe village in Panvel. “BMC authorities checked the spot and noticed that the debris was missing from the alleged spot. The contractors claimed it washed away in the rain. The police and BMC officials then checked images of the location on Google Maps on the dates claimed by the accused and accordingly a case was registered,” said an officer.

Meanwhile, police officers claimed the six contractors named in the case have been on the run for more than a month and have not returned to their homes. Their anticipatory bail will be heard on Thursday.