BJP leader Kirit Somaiya seeks FIR against civic ward officer

Kirit Somaiya. File Pic

Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya has written to the Anti-Corruption Bureau complaining against civic ward officer Manish Valanju. He has alleged that the ward officer awarded contracts for Covid-19 testing and screening worth almost Rs 34 crore to two companies to which his father, Radhakrishna Valanju, is connected.

Manish Valanju is currently an assistant commissioner at E ward. He was earlier an assistant commissioner of L ward comprising Kurla and Chembur. Somaiya alleged that Valanju, during his tenure in L Ward, sanctioned and awarded tenders to Genehealth Diagnostics Pvt. Ltd, where Radhakrishna Valanju is a director. The company was incorporated on August 21, 2020. Somaiya also alleged that Radhakrishna Valanju is a director in Krishnachand Properties Pvt. Ltd. alongwith his wife, Chanda Radhakrishna Valanju. Krishnachand Properties Pvt. Ltd. has been made a designated partner in Genehealth Diagnostics LLP, a company founded on June 18, 2021.

Somaiya alleged as per the purchase orders accessed from the BMC website, Genehealth Diagnostics Pvt. Ltd. and Genehealth Diagnostics LLP, together received work of R33.97 crore from the date of their respective incorporations till December 12, 2021. He also alleged that other officers of the ward office acted in collusion with Valanju.

Valanju said, "My father was on board for only a month and when I was informed, I told him to resign. No transaction took place between him and the company. I don't know from where this all is created. This lab is not even testing in E ward."