The PIL, filed in October 2024 by senior journalist Ravi Prakash, questioned the legitimacy of the bank guarantees issued by MEIL for the Borivali-Thane Twin Tube Tunnel project. The petitioner alleged that fraudulent bank guarantees had been granted in favor of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and sought an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT).  

MEIL, however, denied the allegations, arguing that the PIL was baseless and founded on misleading information. Represented by Senior Advocates Darius Khambata and Mukul Rohatgi, MEIL contended that the petition lacked merit as Prakash had no legal standing to file it and had failed to establish a valid case. They further claimed that the allegations stemmed from personal grievances rather than genuine public interest.  

Supporting MEIL’s stance, the Union government, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, argued that the petition amounted to an abuse of legal proceedings and, if entertained, could set a concerning precedent.

Representing the petitioner, Advocate Prashant Bhushan argued that the PIL raised valid concerns regarding the fairness of the tendering process for the tunnel project.

Bhushan highlighted the alleged undue advantage MEIL had gained, particularly in relation to the bank guarantees and the company’s financial ties, including its purchase of electoral bonds from multiple political parties.  

He contended that these issues were of significant public interest and warranted judicial scrutiny.