Mumbai jumbo COVID centre scam: ED chargesheet alleges Patkar played 'key role'

The Enforcement Directorate ED in its chargesheet stated thatthe businessman Sujit Patkar played a key role in the allotment of a civic contract to his partnership firm for running jumbo COVID19 centres in MumbaiAs per the ED Patkar reportedly a close aide of Shiv Sena UBT Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut managed to gather prior information about the tender process for these centres due to his proximity with politically exposed personBesides Patkar the other accused named in the ED chargesheet include the firm Lifeline Hospital Management Services its three partners and Dahisar jumbo Covid Centre dean Dr Kishore BisureSujit Patkar and Dr Bisure were arrested under Prevention of Money Laundering Act provisions by the ED Both Patkar and Dr Bisure are in judicial custodyAccording to ED chargesheet Patkar invested only Rs 12500 at the time of incorporation of the firmPatkar indulged himself in criminal activities and hatched a conspiracy in connivance with other accused partners and officials of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and managed to obtain a tendercontract the chargesheet saidHe managed to gather prior information about the tender process due to his proximity with politically exposed person and then he as well as his partners set up the firm to obtain the tender issued by civic authorities the chargesheet statedPatkar used to liaison with BMC officials and played a key role in the process of allotment of contract of manpower supply to Jumbo Covid facility at Dahisar and Worli to Lifeline Management Services it statedThe chargesheet by the ED also stated that the partners devised a scheme to deliberately understaff medical personnel at the Dahisar and Worli Jumbo COVID facilities for their own financial benefit As per the plan there was huge underdeployment of medical staff which had put the lives of the COVID19 patients at risk the chargesheet saidIt claimed the accused had submitted fake and fabricated attendance sheets and related records for Dahisar Jumbo Covid facility whereas with regard to the Worli centre invoices were submitted to the civic body without any attendance data and staff recordsPatkar in connivance with other partners intentionally did not reveal the cancellation of contract by Pune Municipal Region Development Authority which had specified the firms lacunas The Pune Municipal Region Development Authority had also issued an advisory not to give any further works to Lifeline Hospital Management Services in view of larger public interest the ED chargesheet pointed outObtaining payments to the tune of Rs 3244 crore from BMC as part of this contract created proceeds of crime Of this PoC an amount of Rs 281 crore was diverted in the personal bank account of Patkar between November 2020 and October 2022 the chargesheet statedwith inputs from PTI