Kichadi scam: Aaditya Thackeray's aide Suraj Chavan sent to ED custody till Jan 22

Suraj Chauhan outside the ED office on Thursday. Pic/Shadab Khan

Close aide of Aaditya Thackeray, Suraj Chavan has been sent to Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody until January 22 by the special ED court. Chavan was arrested by the ED on Wednesday after months of investigation into the Khichdi scam case registered in September 2023. The ED, in its remand application, has mentioned that due to Chavan's proximity with senior political leaders/influential persons, he managed to award BMC's work order for khichdi to Force One Multi Services.

In its remand application, the ED told the court that the FIR states that Force One Multi Services is a partnership firm and does not have its own kitchen or license from the Department of Health or the Food and Drug Administration. Moreover, the firm is engaged in the provision of sand, bricks and security services. "Even though the firm does not belong to the field of food preparation and supply, then AMC (planning) gave it the task of distribution of khichdi. Force One Multi Services knew that it could not fulfil the eligibility criteria for getting the khichdi distribution mandate, so it illegally obtained the said khichdi distribution mandate through its employees who had influence in the BMC/MCGM."

The remand application further alleges that Force One executed an MoU with Sanjay Mali of Sneha Caterers to supply 300 gm of khichdi at R16.5. But in actuality, only 100 gm khichdi packets were prepared, which were supplied to the BMC at Rs 33 plus GST per packet. "Force One Multi Services for its own financial gain, supplied khichdi packets of lesser weight to BMC and illegally obtained R8.64 crore from the civic body."

According to the ED application, out of this amount, R4.2 crore was paid to Mali (Sneha Caterers) and about R84 lakh was paid to Amanpreet Kir (Golden Star Banquet Hotel). The remaining amount of R3.64 crore was illegally misappropriated by Force One. The ED alleges that Chavan received R1.35 crore from proceeds of the crime.

The EOW had registered an FIR for alleged misappropriation of Rs 6.37 crore and financial irregularities related to BMC's contract for distributing khichdi to migrant workers during the pandemic. The FIR - registered at the Agripada police station - names Sujit Patkar who is a close associate of Sanjay Raut; Sunil alias Bala Kadam; Rajeev Salunkhe of Sahyadri Refreshments; employees of Force One Multi Services; Sneha Caterers' partners; and an assistant municipal commissioner (planning), along with other unidentified BMC officials.

As per the sources in the EOW, during the pandemic, Chavan's income saw a 400 per cent increase in April 2020 while working as a consultant for Force One Multi Services. Earlier, he earned just Rs 75,000 per month, but during the peak of the pandemic, the figure increased to Rs 3 lakh as Khichdi consultation fee.

According to sources, Chavan was tasked with administrative work and using political connections to secure contracts during the pandemic. They also indicated that, in addition to Chavan, Patkar received Rs 46 lakh from Sahyadri Refreshments as consultancy fees for khichdi production, which was deposited into his firm's account. Another individual under scrutiny in this case is Amol Kirtikar, who is associated with Shiv Sena (UBT), and the son of Lok Sabha member Gajanan Kirtikar, who's affiliated with the Shinde faction. The EOW has uncovered that Amol assisted Force One in obtaining contracts and received approximately Rs 85 lakh, which is currently under investigation.

The ED also told the court that Chavan served as a key link in the fraud. During the investigation, the accused presented forged documents to project himself as an employee of Force One and also falsely projected his proceeds of crime as untainted money.

300 gm
Weight of khichdi to be supplied

100 gm
Weight of khichdi actually supplied