Lagatar24 Desk
Mumbai, April 7: Kirit Somaiya of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and his son Neil have been charged with allegedly defrauding and misappropriating funds raised to save the decommissioned aircraft carrier INS Vikrant from being demolished.
The case’s First Information Report (FIR) was filed at the Trombay police station under Indian Penal Code Sections 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust), and 34 (common intention). According to a police officer, the two gathered money but did not transmit it to the government. The case was opened after an ex-military officer filed a complaint.
The FIR was registered a day after governing Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut accused Somaiya of stealing 57 crore from crowd-funding in 2013-14 to keep INS Vikrant alive. The funds were raised after a campaign launched by Somaiya in 2013-14 to transform the ship into a museum instead. He went on to say that the money would be deposited at the Raj Bhavan. The money was never deposited, according to Raut, who referenced information received under the Right to Information Act. The Maharashtra government, according to Raut, would investigate the matter because it falls under its authority.
Meanwhile, Somaiya said he was ready to face any action.
“No scam has taken place, not even worth a rupee in Vikrant fund collection. I have not done anything wrong. I am not scared of any action. Raut has been levelling allegations but has not given proof to substantiate them. I have not received a copy of the FIR. I will keep exposing the Uddhav Thackeray government. I dare Thackeray to give information available to him,” he said.
