Amol Kirtikar, the Shiv Sena candidate for the Mumbai North-West Lok Sabha constituency, was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for more than seven hours on Monday, marking a significant milestone in the continuing probe into the money laundering case related to the khichadi scandal. The questioning, which continued until late in the evening, provided insight into the case’s purported financial irregularities and political dynamics.
Background
In the khichadi fraud, contractors that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) engaged are accused of inflating invoices for the pandemic-related khichadi distribution to the underprivileged and migrants. The embezzlement of money into many accounts and the purported theft of cash are being investigated by the ED.
Amol Kirtikar’s Involvement
In response to his alleged receipt of Rs 1.65 crore from the proceeds of crime stemming from the khichadi scam, Kirtikar, who was running for Lok Sabha from the Mumbai North-West seat, was questioned. Kirtikar was summoned for interrogation on Monday even though he had previously requested a waiver to avoid appearing before the ED until after the elections.
Kirtikar was cooperative with the investigators throughout the interview, claiming that the transaction in question was covered by his consulting fees. He declined to comment on particulars of the interrogation because there was still an investigation ongoing.
Political Implications
There are major political repercussions to the probe into Kirtikar’s suspected involvement in the khichadi fraud. Following his father Gajanan Kirtikar’s decision to join the opposition party led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Kirtikar’s candidacy for the Mumbai North-West seat was declared by Shiv Sena. The division within the party highlights how intricate the political ties are inside Shiv Sena.
The probe is further complicated by the arrest of Suraj Chavan, a close aide to Aaditya Thackeray and secretary of the Shiv Sena UBT, in connection with the khichadi scandal. Concerns of favoritism and systematic corruption inside the party are heightened by Chavan’s purported receipt of Rs 1.2 crore from a contractor implicated in the fraud.
Legal Proceedings
The inquiry is getting more intense after Suraj Chavan was arrested and chargesheets were filed by the ED, putting him in jail. To further expand the investigation’s purview, the organization is also closely examining bank transactions involving the family of MP Sanjay Raut.
While the Enforcement Department continues to investigate the khichadi fraud and its consequences, Maharashtra’s political climate continues to be unstable. The investigation’s conclusion may have a significant impact on Shiv Sena’s chances of winning elections. The public debate is still dominated by the pursuit of accountability and openness in government, notwithstanding accusations of financial malfeasance and power battles.
