Shiv Sena (UBT) key functionary Suraj Chavan – a close aide of Aaditya Thackeray – has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the ‘khichdi’ scam case. His arrest followed probe agency-led raids on eight locations in Mumbai, including the residence of a senior BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) officer and Chavan’s residence on Wednesday.
The arrest comes in the ED-led probe into the financial misappropriation by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in khichdi distribution to migrant labourers during the Covid lockdown.
According to sources, it is alleged that Suraj Chavan had influenced BMC officials to render the contracts to select contractors, with alleged direct links to the party leaders.
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police in September 2023 registered a case regarding the ‘khichdi‘ scam against Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut’s close aide Sujit Patkar, Sunil alias Bala Kadam, Sahyadri Refreshment’s Rajiv Salunke, and others.
According to the Mumbai Police, the irregularities in the award of the contract for the distribution of ‘khichdi‘ are estimated to be around Rs 6.37 crore. As per the allegations, the accused did not supply ‘khichdi’ to the mentioned numbers as per the invoice submitted. Khichdi is a food item made by boiling rice and lentils.
Also, the food packets were supposed to be 250 grams, but the contractors distributed only 125 grams of food in those packets.
Earlier, the ED had questioned Deputy Municipal Commissioner of BMC Sangeeta Hasnale in connection with the money laundering probe launched by the agency in the ‘khichdi’ scam case. Hasnale was, at the time, Assistant Municipal Commissioner of Planning and was in charge of the food distribution scheme for poor, stranded workers, daily wage labourers, and migrant workers in Mumbai.