Covid-19 jumbo centre scam: Aaditya Thackeray’s close aide Suraj Chavan appears before ED

The agency is already looking into Chavan’s WhatsApp chats with suppliers and contractors, sources privy to the probe said.

The ED has also identified Chavan’s four flats worth nearly Rs 10 crore in suburban Mumbai. These flats were allegedly bought during the pandemic and sources of money used in the purchase are being examined.

The agency is likely to confront Chavan with the contents of a diary they have found which has details of cash transactions with suppliers. It is likely to record his statement in connection with this.

The case

The ED is currently investigating money laundering charges in the Covid-19 jumbo centres scam based on a case registered by the Mumbai police in August 2022 at Azad Maidan police station. The complaint in this regard was filed by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya. In October 2022, the case was transferred to the Mumbai police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW). Later, the ED registered a PMLA case in the matter.

The case relates to the field hospitals set up in Mumbai by the government during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was tasked with providing healthcare staff and other facilities on a contract basis. The BJP alleged that contracts were given at exorbitant rates to contractors linked to Shiv Sena leaders though they did not have prior experience in healthcare services.

BMC’s Rs 4,000 crore spend under ED lens

Later, the ED also discovered various other glaring irregularities that allegedly occurred in the BMC during the pandemic. The anti-money laundering agency has now widened its probe into the civic body’s overall expenditure of Rs 4,000 crore during the Covid-19 period and is closely scrutinising purchases, deals, award of contracts and other transactions, agency sources said Friday.

Many senior civic officials, contractors, suppliers and politically exposed persons have come under ED radar. The agency has managed to access details of many suspicious deals and purchases and will now start calling the persons concerned for inquiry.