Sandeep Raut, the brother of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, has been issued a summons by the Enforcement Directorate for the upcoming week regarding his involvement in the alleged 'khichdi' scam.
The Enforcement Directorate has requested Sandeep Raut to appear at its Mumbai office to provide a statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Last week, Suraj Chavan, another Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and a core committee member of the Yuva Sena, the youth wing of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction, was arrested by the ED in connection with the same case. Chavan, currently in ED custody until Thursday, is anticipated to be presented before a court.
The origins of the money laundering case are traced back to an FIR filed by the Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW). The alleged irregularities are related to the awarding of contracts by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for supplying 'khichdi' to migrant laborers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the police, an amount of Rs 8.64 crore was transferred by the BMC to the bank account of Force One Multi Services, which had received the work order for providing 'khichdi'. The Enforcement Directorate contends that Force One Multi Services generated "proceeds of crime" amounting to around Rs 3.64 crore. Of this sum, Rs 1.25 crore was allegedly diverted to the personal bank account of Chavan, and an additional Rs 10 lakh to the bank account of his partnership firm Fire Fighters Enterprises. The ED, while seeking Chavan's remand, asserted that Chavan wrongfully acquired "proceeds of crime" totaling Rs 1.35 crore through this process.
