Ketan Kadam, an alleged middleman in the Rs 65 crore Mithi River desilting contract scam, played a "crucial role" in the conspiracy that resulted in wrongful loss to the Mumbai civic body, a local court observed last week while denying him bail.

Additional Sessions Judge N.G. Shukla rejected Kadam's bail plea on 11th July, with the reasoned order made public on Tuesday.

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police registered a case in May against 13 individuals, including contractors and civic officials, concerning the alleged Rs 65 crore fraud related to the desilting of the Mithi River, which flows through the city.