Lagatar24 Desk
Mumbai, June 23: In connection with the alleged BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) Covid centre scam, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) reportedly conducted raids at 15 sites in Mumbai and confiscated cash and papers related to assets valued in the crores, according to ED sources.
Sujit Patkar, a businessman and close associate of Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Sanjay Raut and Aaditya Thackeray, is accused of money laundering, along with other individuals.
The raids were carried out in relation to the COVID-19 hospital management contracts at premises connected to a number of BMC officials and other individuals, including IAS officer Sanjeev Jaiswal, according to ED sources.
The raids were carried out in relation to the COVID-19 hospital management contracts at premises connected to a number of BMC officials and other individuals, including IAS officer Sanjeev Jaiswal, according to ED sources.
The sources claim that during the raid, ED confiscated Rs 68.65 lakh in cash. Documents of 50 immovable properties in Maharashtra having a combined market value of more than Rs 150 crore, fixed deposits and investments totalling Rs 15 crore, and jewellery totalling Rs 2.46 crore have also been seized.
The sources added that in addition to several incriminating documents, ED also seized a number of mobile phones and laptops.
The investigation turned up evidence that one company was selling dead COVID-19 patients’ body bags to another company for Rs 2,000. According to ED sources, the company was providing the same body bags to the Central Procurement Department for Rs 6,800 under a contract that was signed by the mayor of the BMC at the time.
According to sources, the ED would shortly summon Kishori Pednekar, a former mayor of the Mumbai BMC, for questioning.
