CBI Port Blair Books Former Wharf Superintendent and Two Private Firms in ₹39 Lakh Container Fraud Case

PORT BLAIR – The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) unit of Port Blair has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against V.K. Abdul Manaf, the former Wharf Superintendent at Haddo Wharf, and two private companies for alleged corruption, cheating, and criminal breach of trust. The case involves the unauthorized release and commercial use of shipping containers, resulting in a loss of approximately ₹39 lakhs to the government exchequer.

The Allegations

According to the FIR registered on March 24, 2026, the incident occurred between 2019 and 2023. It is alleged that Shri Abdul Manaf, while serving as the Wharf Superintendent at Haddo Wharf under the Port Management Board (PMB), abused his official position to benefit private entities.

The investigation reveals the following key allegations:

• Unauthorized Permission: Manaf allegedly permitted M/s Sakthi Shipping Logistics Private Limited to use 12 containers that were in the custody of the PMB without obtaining written approval from the Competent Authority.
• Outstanding Dues: These 12 containers, belonging to M/s Meenakshi Fishing & Trading Company, had pending stowage charges amounting to approximately ₹38,65,800.
• Deceptive Declarations: The accused allegedly conspired to cheat the PMB by submitting false undertakings to clear outstanding dues, managed to release the containers for commercial use, and subsequently denied taking over the containers by citing their poor condition.
• Potential Loss: By releasing these containers without the recovery of dues, the accused exposed the government to a permanent loss of property and compromised efforts to recover pending charges.

Legal Action and Investigation

The case (RC1212026A0001) has been registered following a written complaint from Shri Bhupendra Kumar, a Sub-Inspector with the CBI/SPE Port Blair, based on a Preliminary Enquiry.

The accused have been booked under the following sections:

• IPC Section 120B r/w 420: Criminal Conspiracy and Cheating.
• IPC Section 409: Criminal Breach of Trust by a Public Servant.
• Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018): Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(a) regarding Criminal Misconduct.

The Competent Authority granted permission to conduct the investigation against Shri Abdul Manaf on August 12, 2025. The case is currently being investigated by Aman Baa, Deputy Superintendent of Police, ACB Port Blair.

The FIR was authorized and signed by Alok Sinha, Additional Superintendent of Police and Head of Branch, CBI/SPE Port Blair.