Irrigation scam: seven accused get interim protection

The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court today granted interim protection from arrest to seven accused, directors of RJ Shah & Company and D Thakkar Constructions, in a case related to alleged scam in the Mokhaburdi Upsa Lift Irrigation scheme.
No "coercive steps" should be taken against them till March 5, 2018, the next date of hearing, said the court, seeking government's reply to the accused's pre-arrest bail applications.
Anti-Corruption Bureau of Maharashtra police has filed cases against Kalindi Rajendra Shah and Tejaswini Rajendra Shah, both directors of RJ Shah &Company; Vishal Pravin Thakkar, Pravin Nathalal Thakkar, Jigar Pravin Thakkar, Arun Kumar Gupta and Ramesh Kumar Soni.

The ACB filed a 4,500-page charge sheet against the accused last month, after which they moved the court seeking pre-arrest bail.
As per the ACB, private contractors, in connivance with government officials, manipulated the tender process which resulted in a financial loss to the government.