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Explained: The cheating case related to INS Vikrant in which BJP’s Kirit Somaiya, son have been booked

INS Vikrant, the first aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy, was scrapped in November 2014. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya had launched a money collection drive to save the ship. Here is why he and his son Neil have been booked now.

INS Vikrant, kirit somaiya booked, neil somaiya booked, ins vikrant case, indian express explainedINS Vikrant gained national prominence for the role it played in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation war. (Express photo)

The Mumbai Police on Thursday registered an FIR against BJP leader Kirit Somaiya and his son Neil on allegations of swindling money collected for restoration of INS Vikrant, Indian Navy’s first aircraft carrier. The Indian Express explains what the case is about and why Somaiya has been charged.

What is INS Vikrant?

The INS Vikrant was the first aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy, which gained national prominence for the role it played in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation war. The 5-storey, 16,000-tonne warship was decommissioned in 1997, and attempts were made to preserve it as a museum ship in Mumbai. In 1999,the NDA-led central government had gifted the ship to the state for conversion into a martyrs’ museum.

The Maharashtra government had proposed to hire a private entity to transform the ship into a museum featuring a convention centre, a restaurant and maybe even a mall. It had also floated several bids to this effect, none of which materialised.

Subsequently in 2013, a decision was made to scrap the ship as she had become very difficult to maintain. In 2014, the ship was sold in an online auction to a ship breaker for Rs 60 crore. While the sale was challenged, the ship was scrapped in November 2014 after an SC order.

What is Kirit Somaiya’s role in the INS Vikrant issue?

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya was at the forefront of attacking the then Congress-NCP government in 2013, questioning its intent over the conservation of the historic warship INS Vikrant. Somaiya had then said that the Congress-NCP government wanted to commercially exploit the decommissioned warship by handing it over to private players.

“When the DF government was back in power in 2004,repeated efforts were made to clear decks for commercialisation of the warship. Former CMs (late) Vilasrao Deshmukh and Ashok Chavan wrote to the Ministry several times but successive defence ministers,including incumbent A K Antony, never backed the public-private partnership (PPP) route. The model is nothing but a Rs 200-crore commission scam,” Somaiya had said in 2013.
Somaiya had alleged that “commercial interests” were driving the state’s initiative to conserve the ship.

“Public opinion has always been for preservation of the ship. Neither will we allow its commercialisation nor its disposal. We have written to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan saying that we are willing to contribute money for the conservation project,including the commission amount,” Somaiya said.

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He had then launched a money collection drive to save the ship.

Why Somaiya has been booked

Based on a complaint from one Baban Bhosale, a former soldier in the army, the Trombay Police station has booked Somaiya and his son Neil under section 420 (cheating and dishonesty including delivery of property) and 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust) and 34 (common intentions) of the Indian Penal Code.

Bhosale in his complaint has said that the father-son duo collected money from people claiming it would be used to conserve the ship, but spent it on their personal use. The complainant said he too had paid Rs 2,000 for the initiative, and that the total money collected could be around Rs 57 crore.

What is Somaiya’s response?

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Somaiya has denied any wrongdoing and said that he is ready to face any inquiry. “There is no scam in this. I have not done anything wrong. I have not received the copy of the FIR filed in the case. I will keep exposing the Uddhav Thackeray government. I am ready to face the investigation,” he said.

Somaiya has been at the forefront of accusing Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi leaders of corruption. Over the past few months, Somaiya has publicly accused various MVA leaders, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray of financial impropriety.

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Zeeshan Shaikh is the Associate Editor who heads The Indian Express' Mumbai reporting team. He is recognized for his highly specialized Expertise in analyzing the complex dynamics of Maharashtra politics and critical minority issues, providing in-depth, nuanced, and Trustworthy reports. Expertise  Senior Editorial Role: As an Associate Editor leading the Mumbai reporting team, Zeeshan Shaikh holds a position of significant Authority and journalistic responsibility at a leading national newspaper. Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on two interconnected, high-impact areas: Maharashtra Politics & Urban Power Structures: Provides deep-dive analyses into political strategies, municipal elections (e.g., BMC polls), the history of alliances (e.g., Shiv Sena's shifting partners), and the changing demographics that influence civic power in Mumbai. Minority Issues and Socio-Political Trends: Excels in coverage of the Muslim community's representation in power, demographic shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the historical context of sensitive political and cultural issues (e.g., the 'Vande Mataram' debate's roots in the BMC). Investigative Depth: His articles frequently delve into the historical roots and contemporary consequences of major events, ranging from the rise of extremist groups in specific villages (e.g., Borivali-Padgha) to the long-term collapse of established political parties (e.g., Congress in Mumbai). Trustworthiness & Credibility Data-Driven Analysis: Zeeshan's work often incorporates empirical data, such as National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics on arrests and convictions of minorities, or data on asset growth of politicians, grounding his reports in factual evidence. Focus on Hinterland Issues: While based in Mumbai, he maintains a wide lens, covering issues affecting the state's hinterlands, including water crises, infrastructure delays, and the plight of marginalized communities (e.g., manual scavengers). Institutional Affiliation: His senior position at The Indian Express—a publication known for its tradition of rigorous political and investigative journalism—underscores the high level of editorial vetting and Trustworthiness of his reports. He tweets @zeeshansahafi ... Read More

 

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