Anti-Corruption Bureau files bribe case against Mumbai Monorail Chief DLN Murthy

Mumbai, India (Urban Transport News): The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Maharashtra has registered a case against the Dr. DLN Murthy, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Mumbai Monorail for allegedly demanding Rs 20 lakh from the contractor of a facility management company. The said bribe was demanded by him in order to sanction a bill for the services provided by the company for the Mumbai Monorail project. The complaint was filed by the contractor compnay.

The contractor company provides housekeeping, maintenance and customer services for Mumbai Monorail and had awarded a contract worth Rs 2.5 crores from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for delivering its services from January 2019 to August 2020. The contractor company had also paid Rs 32 lakh as a bank guarantee to MMRDA. So, the total amount payable to the complainant was Rs 2.82 lakh.

“After constant follow-ups with officials from Mumbai Monorail, the complainant managed to get Rs 2.1 crore in January 2021 and subsequently Rs 22 lakh in June. And in order to release the remaining amount of Rs 50 lakh, the COO, identified as Dr. DLN Murthy, demanded Rs 20 lakh from the complainant,” said the statement issued by ACB.

On July 2, 2021, the complainant approached the ACB headquarters in Worli to file the complaint against the Chief Operating Officer. “We initiated an inquiry and tried to lay a trap, but as things did not work out, on the basis of the evidence furnished by the complainant, we registered a case of (bribe) demand,” said ACB officials.

Dr. DLN Murthy has been booked under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). However, Murthy is denying the charges by saying that all charges are false and baseless. “That’s all false and baseless. The truth will come out soon. Request you to wait patiently till such time,” said Murthy.

India's only Monorail runs on a 19.54 km stretch from Chembur to Sant Gadge Maharaj Chowk in Mumbai, has been facing operational and financial difficulties which have affected its normal operations.