Suraj Chavan, a functionary of Shiv Sena (UBT), has approached the Bombay High Court, contesting the legality of his arrest in connection with alleged irregularities in distributing khichdi to migrant workers and homeless individuals during the pandemic.
Chavan was detained by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as part of a money laundering investigation related to a Rs6.37 crore contract awarded by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for khichdi distribution. In his plea, filed through advocate Harshad Bhadbhade, he asserts that he was not informed of the reasons behind his arrest and that these were not presented to the magistrate who remanded him to ED custody. Chavan argues that he has been falsely implicated due to his role as secretary of Shiv Sena (UBT) and highlights that he was uniquely targeted among the accused.
The allegations against Chavan state that, due to his connections with senior political leaders, he influenced the awarding of the contract to Force One Multi Services, which reportedly lacked both a kitchen and the necessary licenses from health authorities and the food and drug administration. The company supplied khichdi to the state government at Rs 33 per 100-gram packet while purchasing the packets for just Rs16 from smaller suppliers.
According to the ED, the price difference was allegedly pocketed by Chavan and other accused individuals. Furthermore, it is claimed that out of the Rs3.46 crore misappropriated, Chavan coerced the partners of Force One into making Rs1.35 crore in payments as a “salary” for his role as an “employee” of the firm.
