INSIDE STORY: Police started inquiry at GMB into document leak
Allegations that journalist Mahesh Langa leaked the document regarding granting extension to a private port and gave it to a political party
Gujarat journalist Mahesh Langa has leaked documentary evidence from the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) Gandhinagar head office for the National Leader of Opposition’s allegations that the country’s leading industrial group is trying to monopolize Gujarat’s port sector and is harming competition, raising prices for the common man. Action was taken on Tuesday on the allegation of having done so.
On Tuesday, Gandhinagar police conducted an investigation in a private cell at the GMB head office and the computers were checked and the concerned officials, employees were questioned and 2 contract employees were taken to the police station for further investigation. The case had been under internal investigation for a long time, and the role of journalist Mahesh Langa had come to the notice of the system. Mahesh Langa’s leaked documents chapter is currently questioning contract employees, but the key informant is being discussed at the head office as being the top officials of GMB.
Some time ago, the National Spokesperson of the Opposition said that it is questionable how the government extended the Build-On-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) contract to a private port in Gujarat. The government grants a 30-year concession period to private ports on BOOT basis, after which ownership is transferred to the government.
Based on this model a leading industrial group controls different private ports. Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the private port requested the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) to extend the relaxation period by another 45 years to a total of 75 years. This was well beyond the maximum allowable period of 50 years, but the GMB was quick to urge the government to do so anyway.
The GMB was in such a hurry that it did so without the approval of its board, resulting in allegations that the file was returned at the time by a political party and tarnished the government’s image.
The ruling was put on the back foot by the opposition’s factual and documentary allegations, and an internal inquiry was ordered into how all this was leaked. Meanwhile, the journalist Mahesh Langa, who was recently arrested by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch in the GST scam, leaked this document from the private cell of the GMB Gandhinagar head office and delivered it to a political party.
An internal inquiry will be conducted
Gandhinagar police has conducted an investigation at the GMB office, only the concerned police can say more about the matter. An internal inquiry will be conducted from our office as to what has happened, where the problem has arisen and action will also be taken against whoever is found guilty. > Rajkumar Beniwal, CEO-Vice Chairman, Gujarat Maritime Board, Gandhinagar
The private cell is very important, but depends on the in-charge
Major private ports including Pipavav, Dahej, Mundra, Hazira contribute the lion’s share to the total revenue of GMB. All these ports are managed by GMB’s private cell. Although the private cell of GMB is very important, the in-charge officer has been depriving the government for a long time. At present, the in-charge chief engineer of the private cell is Bhavesh Talavia. Although the post is very important, the officer is not being appointed on a permanent basis. Earlier, Ghogha-Dahej ferry service project failed, Mangrol fisheries breakwater collapsed before opening, despite billions of public tax money was wasted in many such incidents till date no action has been taken against the responsible officials of GMB. That too is raising doubts.
