India, Feb. 26 -- Even as the Maharashtra government ordered an inquiry into French engineering and consulting company Systra's allegations of corruption against senior officials of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) related to metro projects in the city, the agency has drafted a 27-page explanation to the urban development department in which it accused the French firm of breaching confidentiality terms of their contract, violating multiple Indian laws, and making engineering and design flaws, among other contraventions.

In its letter, which Hindustan Times accessed, MMRDA claimed that "...the issues extended beyond cost overruns and included multiple violations of Indian laws, such as the Labour Act. Additiona...