Mumbai Crime Branch Arrests Third Accused In ₹3-Crore Defence Scam

The Anti-Extortion Cell of the Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested the third accused in the ₹3-crore cheating case linked to a sensitive government defence construction project. The arrested accused, Vivek Kumar Gautam Singh, 39, is a native of Ghaziabad district, Uttar Pradesh.

Singh was arrested after his anticipatory bail application was rejected by the sessions court. This comes after the main accused, Dr. Ajay Kumar Sharma, 40, was arrested in March from his residence in Noida, and another accused, Jawahar Singh, 64, was arrested from Naya Nagar in Mira Road.

According to police sources, the conspiracy dates back to January 2025. Investigators alleged that Asian Construction Company and its partners entered into a criminal conspiracy to cheat contractors by falsely promising sub-contracts for a sensitive Military Engineering Services project near Poisar Metro Station in Kandivali.

The contractor, Nashik-based Tutek Vision Industries Pvt. Ltd., was allegedly induced to invest in the project by issuing a Letter of Award on April 7, 2025, followed by a formal agreement on June 12, 2025. However, investigators claim that the project had already been awarded to Electrocool Engineering under a separate agreement executed on May 30, 2025.

Vivek Singh signed the agreement with Tutek Vision Industries despite allegedly knowing that the project had already been contracted to another company. Police are probing whether Singh received any financial benefit for signing the agreement and are tracing the alleged flow of money.

The investigation has revealed that Jawahar Singh stated that the disputed agreement with Tutek Vision Industries was signed by Vivek Singh during police custody. Police will collect handwriting and signature samples of the accused to compare with the agreements executed between Asian Construction Company and Electrocool Engineering, and between Asian Construction Company and Tutek Vision Industries.

Investigators suspect that the accused knowingly executed a sub-contract agreement for the defence project without obtaining mandatory approvals from the Indian military authorities. The security angle of the case is under investigation.

The Mumbai Crime Branch is seeking custodial interrogation of Singh to determine why he signed the contract documents and whether he was financially compensated. The investigation is ongoing, and police are working to uncover the extent of the conspiracy and the alleged flow of money.

The arrest of the third accused in the ₹3-crore cheating case is a significant development in the investigation. The case highlights the importance of ensuring transparency and accountability in government defence construction projects.

The Mumbai Crime Branch's efforts to crack down on cheating and corruption in defence projects are crucial to maintaining the integrity of the defence sector. The investigation is expected to continue, and more details are likely to emerge as the case unfolds.

In the meantime, the arrest of Vivek Kumar Gautam Singh serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance and oversight in government defence construction projects. The case is a testament to the Mumbai Crime Branch's commitment to investigating and prosecuting cases of cheating and corruption.

The outcome of the investigation will be closely watched, and the Mumbai Crime Branch is expected to provide updates on the case as it progresses. For now, the arrest of the third accused in the ₹3-crore cheating case marks a significant milestone in the investigation, and the case is likely to have far-reaching implications for the defence sector.

The case also raises questions about the security implications of the alleged cheating and corruption in defence projects. The investigation is expected to shed more light on the security angle of the case, and the Mumbai Crime Branch is likely to work closely with other agencies to ensure that the integrity of the defence sector is maintained.

In conclusion, the arrest of the third accused in the ₹3-crore cheating case is a significant development in the investigation, and the case is likely to have far-reaching implications for the defence sector. The Mumbai Crime Branch's efforts to crack down on cheating and corruption in defence projects are crucial to maintaining the integrity of the defence sector, and the outcome of the investigation will be closely watched.