PMLA court denies bail to Shiv Sena (UBT) functionary Suraj Chavan

A special PMLA court in Mumbai on Monday denied bail to Shiv Sena UBT functionary Suraj Chavan in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the distribution of khichdi to migrants in Mumbai during the Covid19 pandemic reported the PTIAccording to the PTI the Special judge A C Daga noted that there is sufficient material on record to show that Suraj Chavan was not only involved in generating proceeds of crime but in layering it as wellThe judge in his order stated that the first information report FIR has specific recitals about the findings by the investigating officer concluding that instead of 300 gm of khichdi 100 gm was prepared and distributed through the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai MCGMThe court said at this juncture bail hearings there was prima facie material on record to show that the smaller quantity of the khichdi was packed in the packetFor the sake of argument if it is accepted that there is no evidence to show that less amount of khichdi was packed stillthe work order was obtained by cheating officials of the MCGM it said as per the PTIThe court mentioned as far as the conspiracy was concerned Suraj Chavan is involved since beginning till end and has taken active part according to the PTIThe defence had argued that there was a pickandchoose policy as many people were named accused in the case but only Suraj Chavan had been arrestedThe court said the names of eight suspects were shown in the ED case and the investigation has not yet been fully completedAs such the Enforcement Directorate ED is carrying out further investigation and as and when it arrives at a specific conclusion about the involvement of other suspects in the crime the probe agency will decide whether to arrest them or not the court said the news agency reported on MondayThe court said the ED had arrested Chavan after arriving at a conclusion about his role in the crime and it cannot be said that it is following a pick and choose policy as claimed by the accusedThe ED arrested Suraj Chavan a core committee member of the Yuva Sena the youth wing of the Shiv Sena UBT on January 17 and he is currently in judicial custodyThe money laundering case stems from an FIR registered by the Mumbai polices Economic Offences Wing EOW As per the probe agency the MCGM transferred Rs 864 crore into the bank account of Force One Multi Services to distribute khichdi packets among migrants during the pandemicAs per the probe agency Force One Multi Services generated proceeds of crime of Rs 364 crore of which Rs 125 crore was diverted to Chavans bank account and Rs 10 lakh to the bank account of his partnership firm Fire Fighters EnterprisesIn this manner Chavan wrongfully acquired proceeds of crime to the tune of Rs 135 crore which he used to buy property and invest in a dairy business the ED has allegedwith PTI inputs