The Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently carried out raids at multiple locations in Mumbai, targeting individuals allegedly involved in a COVID field hospital scam. Among those targeted in the raids are close associates of Uddhav Thackeray.
People associated with his son, Aaditya Thackeray, and Sanjay Raut are also targeted. The raids were conducted at 15 different locations in Mumbai. They aim to gather evidence and investigate the extent of the alleged scam.
Notable locations included the homes of Aaditya Thackeray's associate, Suraj Chavan, and Sanjay Raut's friend, Sujit Patkar. In addition, the residences of 14 other individuals, including IAS officer Sanjeev Jaiswal, were also targeted during the raids.
Just two days prior, June 19, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had authorised the formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to delve into financial misappropriations at Mumbai's civic body. The SIT will be headed by the commissioner of the Mumbai Police. It will specifically focus on irregularities in Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) departments.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) recently uncovered a staggering INR 12,000 crore scam involving 76 projects executed by nine different divisions within the BMC. The audit report exposed a series of discrepancies, including delays in work, contracts awarded to ineligible contractors, a lack of transparency, poor planning, and reckless financial management.
This prompted BJP MLA Ameet Satam to write a letter to the CM to request the formation of the SIT. Satam's letter specifically highlighted the role of the previous ruling party leader and his family in influencing the BMC chief's decisions leading to the scam. The letter said, "The CAG found that the BMC awarded 64 contractors work worth INR 4,756 crore without contract for 20 projects totaling INR 214.5 crore."
The SIT includes top police officers from the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) under the leadership of Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar. It will be responsible for investigating the alleged scam thoroughly. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also vowed to ensure the recovery of all stolen funds during an event in Kalyan.
The BMC has responded to the situation by highlighting legal provisions such as the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 and the Disaster Management Act of 2005. They prohibit auditing or investigating expenditures made during the COVID-19 pandemic.
About INR 3500 crore of the INR 12,000 crore in spending is related to COVID-19. The CAG's special audit report for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) was presented to the Maharashtra Assembly in March. It audited the work completed between November 28, 2019, and October 31, 2022.
Critics have voiced their concerns regarding the timing of the SIT investigation, suggesting that it coincides with the Shiv Sena's 57th anniversary.
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