The Enforcement Directorate, on Friday, summoned Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Amol Kirtikar in connection with the COVID Khichdi scam case and called him for questioning on April 8. The summons came in just an hour after he filed his Lok Sabha nomination from Mumbai North-West Lok Sabha constituency.
Following the summons by the Enforcement Directorate summons to Shiv Sena UBT leader Amol Kirtikar, Sanjay Raut claimed that it was an attempt to scare the party. "The moment his name was announced as a Lok Sabha election candidate, he got a summon from ED. This is only an attempt to scare, but we won't be scared," he stated.
Earlier today, the Shiv Sena (UBT) released the names of 16 candidates, including Kirtikar, from Maharashtra for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024, which are slated to be conducted in seven phases beginning on April 19.
Amol Kirtikar is the son of Shiv Sena leader Gajanan Kirtikar, who is now associated with the Shinde faction. He is the incumbent Memeber of Parliament from the Mumbai-North-West constituency.
What is the COVID Khichdi Scam?
The alleged khichdi scam was reported when the undivided Shiv Sena was ruling the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). At that time, Uddhav Thackeray was Maharashtra's Chief Minister, heading the coalition government of Maha Vikas Agadhi (MVA).
The ‘khichdi’ scam is related to the irregularities uncovered by Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai Police, in the distribution of khichdi to migrants during the pandemic.
In September 2023, the EOW had registered an FRI against Sanjay Raut's close aide Sujit Patkar, Sahyadri Refreshment’s Rajeev Salunkhe, Sunil alias Bala Kadam, Sneha Caterer’s partners, the then assistant municipal commissioner, employees and partners of Force One Multi Service, and other unidentified BMC officers, for their involvement in the alleged Rs 6.37 crore scam.
At that time, Kirtikar's name also surfaced in the probe after which he was questioned by the EOW officials for six hours.
Following this, the ED had registered a money laundering case in October 2023 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The probe agency had also arrested Suraj Chavan, a close aide of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray.