Mumbai: BMC chief questioned by ED over ‘irregularities’ at COVID centres

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation chief I S Chahal on Monday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with alleged irregularities in Jumbo COVID Centres. The ED had called Chahal to record his statement in the matter and asked him to submit documents regarding the contracts. Chahal reached the ED office at Ballard Estate at around 11.40 am. He was questioned for nearly four hours.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirit Somaiya had alleged irregularities in the COVID-19 centres set up by the BMC.

After the inquiry, Chahal told media persons, "I had requested the state government to provide manpower to run 10 field hospitals during the pandemic, but it was unable to provide manpower for them. As we didn't have that much manpower, we decided to outsource it. Only doctors and paramedical staff were outsourced, all machinery belongs to us. Due to this, the lives of 92,000 people were saved as they got timely medical treatment." The ED has started investigation in the case of appointment of contractors for management of field hospitals.

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"In one of these cases an inquiry was called for by the ED, and they asked for documents related to the case. The Mumbai police has lodged complaints regarding the same contract in August 2022. They also asked me to provide documents. I told the police we never investigate documents of a tender unless we receive complaints, as we don't have a forensic department like the police. I requested the police to get the documents checked from the forensic department," Chahal said further. Sources claim the civic chief held a meeting with the Additional Municipal Commissioner and other senior officials of the BMC regarding the inquiry.
"On March 17, 2020, the standing committee passed a resolution and permitted the appointment of a contractor for COVID-19 management without calling for a tender," Chahal added. The proposal was tabled by then commissioner Pravin Pardeshi to authorise the administration to spend under the Epidemic and Disaster Management Act.

"The proposal was only for financial sanction, never did the standing committee say no to call for tenders," said former opposition leader in BMC, Ravi Raja.