**19-Year-Old BMS Student Uncovers Major Irregularities in Mulund Road Project Through RTI**
Mumbai: A 19-year-old Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) student from Ghatkopar has brought to light significant irregularities in a 2018 road project in Mulund by filing Right to Information (RTI) applications. Her interest in public administration led to the uncovering of inflated billing, phantom truck usage, and the misappropriation of nearly ₹90 lakh in the project.
The Bombay High Court has taken cognisance of her plea and ordered the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to constitute a two-member committee, comprising an Additional Commissioner and a Chief Engineer, to investigate these allegations thoroughly.
The court also emphasized the importance of youth involvement in civic matters, highlighting that her motivation stemmed from her college campaigns on citizen rights and the RTI Act.
**Investigation Uncovers Serious Deviations**
In 2021, the student filed an RTI regarding the Mulund road project, which eventually revealed documents pointing to serious discrepancies. Among the findings were project challans that included value-added tax (VAT) despite the nationwide switch to Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2017.
Additionally, five trucks allegedly used for the project were found to be registered as motorcycles, and three other vehicles had no registration details at all. The student claimed that inflated bills were sanctioned by the assistant engineer, leading to the misuse of public funds.
**Personal Tragedy Sparks Civic Activism**
According to a report by HT, the student’s dedication to civic accountability was inspired by a personal tragedy. Her father’s friend died due to an accident caused by a pothole. This tragic incident exposed the widespread corruption in road construction projects, where bribery is often rampant.
Ayman Shaikh’s father, Mehmood Shaikh, who has experience filing RTI requests but faces challenges due to language barriers, received support from Ayman in drafting documentation and presenting their case in court.
After filing a police complaint in 2023 and reaching out to the civic body without any resolution, Ayman escalated the matter to the Bombay High Court. She is now seeking a thorough investigation and criminal action against the officials responsible for the irregularities.
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https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-news-19-year-olds-rti-reveals-90-lakh-discrepancy-in-mulund-road-project-bombay-high-court-orders-investigation