Covid Jumbo Centre 'Scam': ED Files Chargesheet Against Sanjay Raut's Aide Sujit Patkar

Sujit Patkar, an associate of Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, stands accused of securing contracts from the BMC through fraudulent means.

File Photo: Sujit Patkar at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in connection with a money laundering case related to 'irregularities' in the jumbo COVID-19 treatment centers, in Mumbai ( Image Source :PTI )

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday filed a chargesheet against businessman Sujit Patkar, an associate of Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, in connection with alleged irregularities surrounding the jumbo COVID-19 treatment centres in Mumbai. The chargesheet has been formally submitted to the court's registry and is scheduled to be presented before the special judge handling cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) following a thorough examination of the documents, news agency PTI reported.

Patkar, along with another accused, Kishore Bisure, had been apprehended by the ED on July 19 and presently remains in judicial custody.

Although the precise details of the chargesheet have not been disclosed, PTI reported a legal representative associated with the case as saying that the ED has formally designated the detained pair as accused parties.

Patkar stands accused of securing contracts from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) through fraudulent means, which were related to the establishment and management of COVID-19 field hospitals, popularly known as 'jumbo centres,' within the city during the pandemic. Meanwhile, Bisure had held the position of dean at one such jumbo centre situated in Dahisar.

According to ED assertions, Lifeline Hospital Management Services, a partnership entity involving Patkar, and three others, had received a substantial sum of Rs 31.84 crore from the BMC for the provision of medical personnel to COVID-19 centres. Notably, this firm, established in June 2020, was granted the contract despite its complete lack of prior experience in providing medical personnel or services, PTI's report mentioned.

During the period of remand following the arrest of the two individuals, the investigative agency apprised the court of Patkar's receipt of a considerable amount of proceeds of criminal activity, which had been deposited into his personal bank account via Lifeline Management Services, it added.

Furthermore, it is claimed that Patkar played a pivotal role in the perpetration of criminal activities and the formation of conspiracies in collusion with other partners associated with Lifeline Management Services and BMC officials to secure the BMC tender for the supply of medical staff to Jumbo COVID Centres, as asserted by the ED in court.

The probe agency further contended that Patkar's custodial interrogation had unveiled his directive to his firm's staff for manipulating attendance records at Jumbo COVID Centres and raising fraudulent bills to be submitted to the civic body.