[ad_1]
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is investigating financial irregularities in the alleged Covid-19 jumbo center scam in Mumbai, has made the first arrests in the case. It has arrested Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sujit Patkar and civilian doctor Kishore Bisur in connection with the alleged multi-crore fraud.
Patkar and Dr Bisur will be produced in a Special Court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act later in the day.
Patkar is one of the four partners of Lifeline Hospital Management Services who have been awarded the contract to operate the Jumbo Covid-19 Center in Worli.
As per ED sources, their investigation revealed that Rs 22 crore was laundered via shell companies and Patkar was instrumental in it. Dr. Bisur was arrested as he was in charge of a field hospital at the time.
They have said that out of about Rs 32 crore spent by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in paying for services available or materials received from Lifeline Hospital management services, about Rs 22 crore was laundered.
The ED claimed that this money was channeled through shell companies. The agency claimed that huge sums of cash were withdrawn and the money tracked. It was alleged that it had stolen the money, and some payments were made to eligible individuals, but they later returned the cash to the suspects.
The central agency has also questioned IAS officer Sanjeev Jaiswal in connection with the case. Jaiswal’s role as Additional Municipal Commissioner for BMC during the coronavirus pandemic is under the scanner of the ED. Jaiswal’s statement is on record because he was a key employee of BMC who signed documents related to the awarding of contracts for healthcare services, personnel and equipment in the COVID field hospitals.
The ED is also trying to ascertain the standards that were followed while awarding contracts to companies associated with Patkar.
In June, the agency conducted two-phase raids on more than 24 buildings in Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana looking for premises belonging to civil officers, doctors, contractors, middle suppliers, etc.
The case relates to the field hospitals set up by the government in Mumbai during the pandemic. BMC is mandated to provide healthcare personnel and other facilities on a contract basis. The BJP alleged that contracts were awarded at exorbitant prices to contractors associated with the Shiv Sena leaders even though they had no previous experience in healthcare services.
The ED, while investigating the Covid-19 jumbo center scam, said he had also come across several other egregious irregularities that allegedly occurred at BMC during the pandemic. The agency then expanded its investigation into BMC’s total expenditure of Rs 4,000 crore during the pandemic and thoroughly examined purchases, deals, contract awards and other transactions during the period.
[ad_2]
