Bombay HC Denies Bail to Agent Accused of Rs 82 Lakh Bribery Scam Linked to BMC Property Transfer

The Bombay High Court has turned down the anticipatory bail application of a real estate agent accused of deceiving a restaurant owner in Mumbai’s Vile Parle area under the guise of arranging bribes for civic officials to fast-track a property transfer.

High Court Observes Larger Conspiracy

Justice Advait Sethna, who was presiding as the vacation judge, refused bail to the accused, Pawan Mutreja. The court highlighted indications of a broader conspiracy involving two other co-accused — Paresh Shah and Prakash Vyas — based on the contents of the FIR registered on April 14, 2025, at the Vile Parle Police Station. The complaint was filed by Jayprakash Suru Shetty, proprietor of the Geeta Restaurant.

Alleged Scam Involved Bribe Payments Worth Rs 82 Lakh

As per the prosecution, the accused parties led Shetty to believe that a total of Rs 82 lakh — split as Rs 50 lakh via bank transfers and Rs 32 lakh in cash — was required as illicit payments to officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Within that, Rs 9.5 lakh reportedly went to Mutreja's bank account and another Rs 9.25 lakh was allegedly received by him in cash.

‘Loan for Medical Treatment’ Claim Dismissed

Mutreja's lawyer, Rahul Moghe, defended the accused by stating the transferred funds were a personal loan from co-accused Vyas, meant for his mother's cancer treatment. However, the judge dismissed this version, labeling it “doubtful and an afterthought” due to the lack of any documentary evidence.

Chats, MOU, and Voice Clip Strengthen Prosecution Case

Justice Sethna further cited WhatsApp messages and a Memorandum of Understanding dated January 22, 2025, as connecting Mutreja directly to the deal involving the complainant and co-accused Vyas. These findings, the court observed, contradicted Mutreja’s claim of non-involvement with the other accused.

Moreover, the prosecution submitted an audio recording wherein Mutreja was allegedly heard asking Shetty’s daughter for money, purportedly to bribe officials. This evidence, the court stated, hinted at attempts by the accused to potentially influence key witnesses.

Disclaimer: The legal proceedings and allegations mentioned in this article are based on official court observations and ongoing investigations. The accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.