COVID jumbo centres scam: Patkar used Sanjay Raut's card to meet BMC officials, says ED

Businessman Sujit Patkar, accused of money laundering, allegedly used reference of his friend Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut to meet ditional municipal commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal during pandemic to discuss Worli Covid jumbo hospital tenders for Dahisar and Worli, in Maharashtra, Enforcement Directorate said in a chargesheet filed in a special court. 

probe agency claimed that Patkar submitted a letter on letterhe of Lifeline Hospital Management Services (LHMS) to IAS Sanjeev Jaiswal, before formation of his company. "As he (Jaiswal) was not available, Mr Patkar h used Mr Sanjay Raut's name as a reference for him (Mr Sanjeev Jaiswal) to seek a response," chargesheet re. 

Meanwhile, Patkar claimed that he didn't ask Sanjay Raut for any favour. However, Raut knew that Patkar is associated with LHMS and applying for tender of jumbo Covid centres.  ED chargesheet said, "Due to his (Patkar's) proximity to a politically exposed person, he managed to gar prior information about tender process. reafter, he along with or partners set up ir firm LHMS so tender could be awarded in favour of ir firm."

" said firm despite being a new company established on 26.06.2020 and possessed no experience of providing medical services, tender got allotted to firm," chargesheet res.  federal probe agency mentioned that it's continuing its investigation "into specific roles of or accomplices".

LHMC irregularities in COVID services  

Amid pandemic, LHMS was responsible for supplying healthcare personnel and physicians to BMC's Dahisar and Worli jumbo Covid centres. It allegedly submitted bills that were inflated, despite providing approximately 60 per cent fewer healthcare staff, jeopardizing well-being of COVID-19 patients.

Furr, it allegedly submitted invoices on a day when Dahisar Jumbo centre was non-operational due to Cyclone Tauktae, leing to relocation of all patients to or hospitals. Junior staff members and newly appointed dean (who took over from accused Dr. Kishor Bisure) raised se concerns with senior BMC officials, but no action was taken, and LHMS faced only a penalty of Rs 31 lakh.