The MRIDC controversy has intensified after RTI records reviewed by Sprouts News reportedly failed to establish Indian Railways’ approval for the post-retirement continuation of Managing Director Rajesh Kumar Jaiswal. The issue has gained prominence as Maharashtra assigned 65 additional railway infrastructure projects to the corporation despite unresolved governance questions. According to the records reviewed, repeated RTI applications seeking details of the approval process have not produced the requested documents. Neither Indian Railways nor the Maharashtra Government has publicly clarified the administrative basis for the continuation.

MRIDC Controversy Deepens: No Railway Approval Found in RTI Records, Yet Maharashtra Entrusts Corporation With 65 New Projects

Questions over the post-retirement continuation of Rajesh Kumar Jaiswal as Managing Director of the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC) have intensified after RTI records reportedly failed to establish approval from Indian Railways, even as the Maharashtra Government expanded the corporation’s responsibilities.

The MRIDC controversy has entered a new phase after RTI records reviewed by Sprouts News reportedly failed to establish approval from Indian Railways for the post-retirement continuation of alleged fraudster Rajesh Kumar Jaiswal as Managing Director, despite the corporation being assigned responsibility for 65 additional railway infrastructure projects across Maharashtra.

The issue has attracted growing attention because MRIDC operates as a 50:50 joint venture between the Government of Maharashtra and Indian Railways, making administrative approvals and governance processes particularly significant for projects involving substantial public expenditure and strategic railway infrastructure.

According to documents reviewed by Sprouts News, repeated RTI applications seeking clarification regarding the approval process have reportedly not resulted in disclosure of any record demonstrating Railway approval for the Managing Director’s continuation after retirement, leaving key administrative questions unanswered.

For nearly two years, Sprouts News has consistently reported developments surrounding the continuation of Rajesh Kumar Jaiswal as Managing Director. During that period, RTI disclosures, official correspondence reportedly supporting a fresh appointment process and repeated requests for clarification have not produced a comprehensive public explanation.

Neither Indian Railways nor the Government of Maharashtra has publicly placed on record a detailed clarification explaining the legal or administrative basis under which the post-retirement extension has reportedly continued beyond normal service tenure.

MRIDC Leadership and RTI Questions Continue to Raise Governance Concerns

Since the establishment of Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC) in 2018, alleged fraudster Rajesh Kumar Jaiswal has continued to serve as Managing Director and is now entering his eighth year leading the organisation.

Such continuity has drawn attention because leadership positions within government-owned corporations are generally associated with fixed tenures, periodic rotation, and fresh appointment processes intended to strengthen institutional accountability and administrative transparency.

If exceptional circumstances justified retaining the same leadership after retirement, those reasons have not been publicly disclosed. Similarly, no public explanation has clarified whether a fresh recruitment process was initiated or whether other eligible officers were considered.

Because MRIDC functions as an equal joint venture between Indian Railways and the Government of Maharashtra, the reported absence of Railway approval within RTI material reviewed by Sprouts News has emerged as the central governance issue.

If such approval exists, observers have questioned why the relevant documents have not been made public. Conversely, if no approval exists, questions remain regarding the authority under which the continuation has reportedly proceeded.

RTI applicants have also reportedly sought copies of the approval process from the Maharashtra Government. According to the material reviewed, those applications remained unanswered even after expiry of the statutory period prescribed under the Right to Information Act.

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65 New Railway Projects Add Fresh Dimension to MRIDC Controversy

While governance questions remain unresolved, the Government of Maharashtra has entrusted MRIDC with 65 new railway infrastructure projects across the State.

The proposed works reportedly include the construction of road overbridges, railway underpasses, and other infrastructure designed to eliminate level crossings and improve transport connectivity throughout Maharashtra.

The timing of this expansion has attracted attention because governance experts generally expect issues relating to leadership, approvals, and institutional accountability to be transparently resolved before substantially increasing the responsibilities of a public-sector organisation.

Another issue has emerged from MRIDC’s organisational structure. During RTI proceedings, the corporation reportedly directed the applicant to its official website for details regarding its officers and organisational hierarchy.

According to information available publicly, the organisation reportedly does not appear to have full-time deputed senior officers from either Indian Railways or the Government of Maharashtra occupying several key executive positions.

Apart from the Managing Director, much of the organisation reportedly functions through contractual appointments. Observers note that comparable government-owned infrastructure corporations generally rely upon deputed officers from their parent organisations to strengthen administrative oversight, financial discipline, and institutional accountability.

Taken together, the questions surrounding alleged fraudster Rajesh Kumar Jaiswal’s post-retirement continuation, the reported absence of documented Railway approval within RTI material reviewed by Sprouts News, the Maharashtra Government’s continued silence, MRIDC’s organisational structure, and the allocation of 65 additional railway projects have expanded what began as an administrative query into a broader debate over governance, transparency, and public accountability.

The Government of Maharashtra, Indian Railways, and Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (MRIDC) retain the opportunity to address the controversy by publicly disclosing the complete approval file, correspondence exchanged between the two governments, and the legal basis for the Managing Director’s continuation after retirement. Until those records are released, questions surrounding MRIDC’s governance are likely to remain under continued public and institutional scrutiny.

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If you have verified documents or information relating to public infrastructure, governance, or transparency issues, you may share them with investigative journalist Unmesh Gujarathi at 9322755098. Every credible input received by Sprouts News is independently verified before publication in the larger public interest.

Editorial Note:

This article is based on publicly available FIR records, court case references, and reports published by multiple media organisations. The information is presented in the context of ongoing investigations and public interest reporting. Sprouts News does not make any judicial determination regarding the individuals mentioned and does not intend to defame any person or organisation. Any individual seeking clarification or wishing to provide an official response may contact the editorial team with verifiable documentation. The information is presented for journalistic and informational purposes.