Covid-19 jumbo centres ‘scam’: ED surveys BMC’s Central Purchase Dept

A jumbo Covid centre that was set up in Malad. File Pic

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday conducted a survey at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's Central Purchase Department (CPD) in connection with a probe into alleged irregularities in setting up of jumbo COVID treatment facilities in the metropolis, an official said. The civic body's CPD is situated in Byculla and the ED team went through documents related to tenders and contracts awarded to a firm related to Sujit Patkar and three partners, the official informed.

As part of the jumbo COVID centre probe, the ED had, on Wednesday, searched 15 places, including the residence of Patkar, who is considered a close friend of Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut. The other sites that were searched included those connected to Indian Administrative Service officer Sanjeev Jaiswal and Shiv Sena (UBT) functionary Suraj Chavan, officials said.

The Mumbai police had registered a forgery case against the Lifeline Hospital Management Services firm, Patkar, and his three partners in August last year. Based on the FIR at the Azad Maidan police station in south Mumbai, the ED registered a case to investigate the money laundering angle.

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