BMC Khichdi scam: Aaditya Thackeray’s aide Suraj Chavan questioned for six hours

Chavan was previously questioned for six hours by the EOW in another case last month, based on additional inputs provided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

A Yuva Sena functionary, Chavan reached Mumbai police headquarters where the EOW’s head office is located, at around 11.45 am Tuesday. He was allowed to go home after over six hours of questioning.

BJP’s former MP Kirit Somaiya had raised objections over the BMC’s spending on Khichdi during pandemic.

Based on a complaint, EOW has initiated a preliminary enquiry to look into the Khichdi scam.

This is the eighth inquiry initiated by EOW with regards to irregularities in the functioning of BMC. It has lodged FIRs in two issues–one related to Covid jumbo centre scam pertaining to Lifeline Management Service Ltd and another is purchase of body bags on inflated rates during Covid days.

The ED had also questioned Chavan for several hours in the past. The central agency, while probing the alleged irregularities linked to the Rs 32 crore Covid jumbo centre scam, had come across other alleged irregularities linked to contracts awarded by the BMC to contractors and suppliers during the Covid-19 period. Chavan’s involvement in the scam was suspected, an ED source said.

Since these alleged irregularities were not directly linked to the EOW’s first FIR in connection with the case, the ED had shared this information with EOW for further investigation.

The ED also suspects that Chavan is one of the four middlemen who coordinated between contractors and civic officials for various civic contracts.

Chavan’s name has cropped up as a middleman in four to five direct contracts, ED sources said. Cash transactions linked to Chavan and his WhatsApp chats with suppliers and contractors are also under scrutiny, the sources said.

The ED has identified Chavan’s four suburban Mumbai apartments worth nearly Rs 10 crore and is examining the source of the money used to purchase these flats during the pandemic. It has allegedly also found a diary with details of cash transactions with suppliers.