Since June 21, the Enforcement Directorate has conducted more than 15 raids in relation to BMC contracts that a businessman and his colleagues are accused of unlawfully obtaining for the management of Covid-19 field hospitals during the epidemic. The anti-money laundering agency has reportedly seized Rs 68.65 lakh in cash during these operations, according to authorities.
In August of last year, the Azad Maidan police arrested businessman Sujit Patkar, his three associates, and Lifeline Hospital Management Services in connection with a forgery case. The ED has filed a case to look into potential money laundering based on the FIR.
Raids were also carried out at the homes of various Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) employees and other people, including IAS officer Sanjeev Jaiswal, in addition to properties allegedly connected to Patkar.
Officials informed News18 that they have retrieved paperwork for 50 immovable properties in Maharashtra with a market value of more than Rs 150 crore, investments and fixed deposits totaling Rs 15 crore, and jewelry worth Rs 2.46 crore. Several computers and cell phones have also been confiscated by the ED.
According to officials, the search turned up evidence that one business had sold the identical body bags used for Covid-19’s dead to the Central Procurement Department for Rs 6,800 and had given them to another company for Rs 2,000. Kishori Pednekar, who was the mayor of the BMC at the time the deal was inked, would probably be called in by the ED for interrogation.
Iqbal Singh Chahal, the commissioner of the BMC, had testified before the ED over the alleged anomalies in January of this year.
THE BMC COVID SCAM: WHAT IS IT?
The scandal allegedly involves issues in the construction of large Covid-19 centers in Mumbai and Pune. The Shiv Sena-UBT, which was in power at the time as a result of the partnership of the unified Shiv Sena, Congress, and NCP, has allegedly been involved, according to the reigning Eknath Shinde administration.
More than 15 addresses in Mumbai have been searched by the ED so far, including the homes of IAS officer Sanjeev Jaiswal, Yuva Sena secretary Suraj Chavan, and businessman Sujit Parkar, who is said to be a close friend of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut.
Vivek Phansalkar, the commissioner of the Mumbai police, will lead a SIT established by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to look into the matter.
According to BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, the scandal is worth more than Rs 100 crore. However, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police has estimated it to be worth Rs 38 crore.
