Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) functionary Suraj Chavan was arrested Wednesday in a money laundering case linked to the alleged irregularities in the distribution of khichdi to migrants during the Covid pandemic.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had taken over the probe after the Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) filed an FIR in September last year.
The EOW was probing alleged irregularities to the tune of Rs 6.37 crore in distribution of khichdi (a dish made of rice and lentils) when the Covid pandemic first brought the world to a standstill in 2020. It had found some related transactions in the bank accounts of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Amol Kirtikar and Yuva Sena functionary Suraj Chavan
Chavan was produced Thursday in a special PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court which sent the close aide of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray to the ED’s custody till 22 January.
According to the remand copy accessed by ThePrint, the ED alleges Chavan wrongfully acquired proceeds of the crime to the tune of Rs 1.35 crore from Force One Multi Services.
This firm had secured the contract from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to provide khichdi to the poor, migrants and those stranded in the lockdown.
Also Read: 2024 seat-sharing not finalised, but Maharashtra ruling coalition to hold joint rallies from 14 Jan
Charges against Chavan, other accused
In September last year, the EOW initiated the FIR against six individuals for alleged funds misappropriation and financial irregularities to the tune of Rs 6.37 crore related to the BMC’s contract for distributing khichdi to migrant workers during the pandemic.
Sujit Patkar, a close associate of Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, Sunil alias Bala Kadam, Rajeev Salunkhe of Sahyadri Refreshments, employees of Force One Multi Services Sneha Caterer’s partners, and an assistant municipal commissioner (planning), along with other unidentified BMC officials were booked under Sections 420 (cheating), 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 34 (common intention) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC.
In the FIR, the EOW stated that it was decided that kitchens or community centres that are equipped to provide for 5,000 meals daily or more should be awarded the contract. Certificates from the BMC health department and food and drug supplies department were a must for being eligible for the contract.
However, Sahyadri Refreshments, Vaishnavi Kitchen and Force One Multi Services were allegedly found to have neither large kitchens nor other prerequisites.
According to the contract, each packet of khichdi was to weigh 300 gm and cost Rs 33. But the accused allegedly gave only 100-200 gm of the food to the needy.
The EOW alleged Kirtikar and Chavan received Rs 52 lakh and Rs 37 lakh, respectively, as kickbacks. Chavan is said to have used political influence to get the kickbacks.
In June last year, the ED had searched 15 locations, including Chavan’s residence in suburban Chembur, in connection with a money laundering case related to alleged ‘irregularities’ in the jumbo Covid treatment centres in Mumbai.
On 17 August last year, the ED arrested businessman Sujit Patkar, a close friend of Raut, in a case related to Lifeline Hospital Management Services. Earlier, Patkar was arrested in the same case on money laundering charges. This was after BJP leader Kirit Somaiya had lodged a complaint with the Mumbai Police.
Reach in Sena (UBT)
Now arrested, Chavan has been associated with Shiv Sena (UBT)’s youth wing president Aaditya Thackeray for the last 10 years. He has also been Thackeray’s assistant and later elevated to the party secretary position in 2018.
Their connection grew stronger after Aaditya Thackeray became the minister in the MVA government, Sena (UBT) functionaries told ThePrint.
Sena workers that ThePrint spoke to said that all appointments had to go through Chavan. He would keep the diary for Aaditya Thackeray and would execute orders given by the minister.
“If we had to meet Aaditya saheb, Suraj dada used to manage his appointments. And we had to go through him as dada would decide when and where we can meet Aaditya saheb,” a Yuva Sena leader told ThePrint.
Chavan was a key figure in the Yuva Sena affairs and essayed a crucial role in youth-related activities, including university elections.
“Later, it so happened that if any suggestions or requests would come in from Chavan, then it is believed to have come from Aaditya saheb directly,” a Sena (UBT) functionary from South Mumbai said.
On Wednesday night, the ED took Chavan into custody under the PMLA after questioning him at its office in Mumbai.
Thackeray came out in support of his aide on social media, tweeting that the party “will fight these dark days for democracy and win”.
Proud to be a colleague of such patriots who don’t bow down to shameless dictatorships and their servile agencies.@isurajchavan has always stood for the truth, democracy, free speech and our constitution. He refused to be bought out by the regime and there he is being harassed.… pic.twitter.com/wbmkm9ZoI5
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) January 17, 2024
Questioning the arrest, Shiv Sena deputy leader Sushma Andhare asserted that the action came after party chief Uddhav Thackeray held an outreach programme, ‘Janata Nyayalaya’, or people’s court, Tuesday at Worli
“After the Janata Nyayalaya, an atmosphere against the BJP is formed. And that is why as a political vendetta, action against Suraj Chavan is initiated,” Andhare told ThePrint.
(Edited by Tony Rai)