On Thursday, Sangeeta Hasnale, the Deputy Municipal Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), was summoned to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for the Covid ‘khichdi’ fraud.
Hasnale, however, has asked for an extension until Monday, citing obligations at work.
During the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown in 2020, meal packets were distributed to the impoverished, migratory workers, stranded workers, and daily wage laborers as part of the Covid ‘khichdi’ scheme. The ED is looking into claims of money laundering related to the plan.
This plan was overseen by Hasnale, the Assistant Municipal Commissioner (Planning) at the time.
Allegations that contracts for the distribution of food packages were given to contractors through political influence and that the invoices that were submitted to BMC were greatly exaggerated are the main focus of the investigation.
It is believed that these contractors gave large payments to a number of BMC officers and others with political ties. Moreover, it is said that the quantity of food packets provided was inconsistent with the quantities indicated on the invoices.
The food packages that were provided did not satisfy the requirements specified by the BMC. But because they were suspected of accepting bribes and kickbacks from the contractors, the overseeing BMC officers allegedly disregarded these disparities.
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