COVID-19 jumbo centre scam: Sanjay Raut aide passes hands from ED to EOW

Sujit Patkar. File pic/PTI

In a significant development in the COVID-19 jumbo centre scam, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has arrested Sujit Patkar, a close aide of Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut. Patkar had previously been arrested by the ED in connection with the money-laundering case related to the COVID-19 jumbo centre scam.

Senior officials have confirmed that they have been granted five days of custody by the court. Earlier, his anticipatory bail was rejected by the court, which stated that his custodial interrogation is necessary. It has come to light that the contract to supply medical and paramedical staff for the Worli and Dahisar jumbo centres was allegedly forged. The EOW has also alleged that Patkar forged documents to secure a contract for Lifeline Hospital Management Services (LHMS), a company of which he was one of the partners and played a key role in obtaining contracts.

Sujit Patkar. Pic/Facebook

The case was initially registered by BJP's Kirit Somaiya last year in August at Azaad Maidan, alleging that LHMS had submitted false documents to secure contracts from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and had cheated the BMC of Rs 36 crore. Following the allegations of fund misappropriation, the Mumbai Police initiated an investigation, subsequently taken over by the EOW, and the ED launched a money laundering investigation resulting in the arrest of Patkar and another accused the previous month.

During the course of the investigation, it was revealed that Lifeline Hospital Management Services had received Rs 31.84 crore for supplying medical personnel to COVID-19 centres. Discrepancies emerged between attendance sheets and documents submitted to the BMC by staff of Lifeline Hospital Management Services. Notably, the company, which was founded on June 26, 2020, without any prior experience in providing medical personnel services, managed to secure a contract for supplying staff to NSCI, Worli, and Dahisar Jumbo COVID-19 centres from the BMC.

"Details have surfaced after a detailed forensic analysis; which prima facie indicate his involvement in securing the contract through political influence and forging documents. These matters need to be verified through custodial interrogation," stated an EOW officer.

Five
No of days EOW has got custody of Sujit Patkar