BMC khichdi scam: ED arrests Suraj Chavan, close aide of Aaditya

Chavan would be produced in the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court on Thursday. ED’s money laundering case against Chavan, and others are based on an FIR filed in September 2023 by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police.

The FIR named Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut’s close aide Sujit Patkar, Sunil alias Bala Kadam who was allegedly involved in multiple BMC-related cases and arrested twice earlier, Sahyadri Refreshment’s Rajeev Salunkhe, Force One multi Service’s partners and employees, Sneha Caterer’s partners, then assistant municipal commissioner (planning) and other unidentified BMC officials as the accused in the case, which was registered 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 Indian Penal Code.

Kadam and Salunkhe were previously arrested by the EOW in connection with the Lifeline Management Service-Covid jumbo centres scam. The two were later granted bail by the court.

Earlier, Chavan was questioned by the EOW when the probe in the case was at the Preliminary Enquiry (PE) stage.

After EOW’s case, the ED registered a case in October 2023, and a few days later carried out searches at seven places, including the premises of BMC deputy municipal commissioner Sangeeta Hasnale in Chembur and Suraj Chavan’s residence, and some contractors in Mumbai.

Hasnale, who was posted in the planning department, is accused of not duly verifying whether the contractors were qualified enough to deliver required service and alloted contracts, said an agency source. She was questioned by ED on multiple ocassions.

The ED raids also extensively covered the premises of contractors and subcontractors such as Vaishnavi Kitchen/Sahyadri Refreshment in Parel, FNJ Enterprises, which operates the Persian Darbar Hotel in Goregaon, Sneha Caterers and Decorators in Mulund, Golden Star Hall and Banquet in Mulund, Fire Fighter Enterprises in Govandi, and Western India Logistics in Chembur.

The probe into the Khichdi scam was initiated after former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya raised objections over the BMC’s spending on khichdi during the pandemic. On Wednesday he welcomed the ED’s action against Sena leader.

Sanjay Raut’s aide Sujit Patkar, 46, is also a suspect in the case. He is already in judicial custody in connection with the probe into the Covid-19 jumbo centres scam. He was arrested in July last year by the ED.

Who is Suraj Chavan

Suraj Chavan, a close aide and personal assistant of Aaditya Thackeray, has been associated with him for 10 years. Chavan was promoted as party secretary in 2018. When Aaditya was in the government as a minister, Suraj was always seen in the ministries headed by Aaditya. Chavan played a key role in Yuva Sena affairs from university elections to mobilising youth related activities of the Sena and went on to be party secretary. Within the party workers, Chavan’s orders are considered to be orders of Aaditya Thackeray and could be seen with Aaditya everywhere. He was also handling the affairs of Worli assembly constituency from where Aaditya is the MLA.]

The case

The BMC had given contracts of khichdi preparation and distribution to contractors during Covid-19 to feed migrant workers who were stuck in Mumbai due to the lockdown. It has been alleged that Chavan used his political influence to help the accused private firm, Force One Multi Services, secure the contract. This was done despite the fact that Force One Multi Services did not fit in the criteria of providing khichdi as it did not have the food licence. Hence, the firm sub-contracted it to another firm Sneha Caterers.

Lakhs of rupees was paid by Force One Multi Services to Chavan, and when they were questionned about this, they claimed it to be a consultancy fee, agency sources said. It has been also alleged that as per the agreed contract between BMC and the contractor, the khichdi packets were supposed to be 250 grams each, but the contractors distributed only around 125 grams of food in those packets.