ED summons Amol Kirtikar in ‘khichdi’ scam as Shiv Sena (UBT) gives him ticket to contest Lok Sabha elections 2024

On Wednesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) released its first list of 16 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls. Amol Kirtikar’s father Gajanan Kirtikar, who is now with the Eknath Shinde faction, is the incumbent MP from the Mumbai North-West constituency. He reportedly wants to contest the election from the same seat again. Meanwhile, the BJP is also reportedly eying the seat.

The ‘khichdi’ scam: A timeline

Mumbai police Economic Offences Wing (EOW) registered an FIR in September 2023 against Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut’s close aide Sujit Patkar, Sunil alias Bala Kadam, Sahyadri Refreshment’s Rajeev Salunkhe, Force One Multi Service’s partners and employees, Sneha Caterer’s partners, the then assistant municipal commissioner (planning), and other unidentified BMC officers over the alleged Rs 6.37 crore scam.

As Kirtikar’s name surfaced in the probe, he was questioned for six hours in the case by EOW officials in September 2023.

Following this, the ED registered a money laundering case in October 2023 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and arrested Suraj Chavan, a close aide of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray. A chargesheet has also been filed against Chavan.

The ED provisionally attached Suraj Chavan’s immovable properties worth Rs 88.51 lakh, including a residential flat in Mumbai and a parcel of agricultural land in Ratnagiri.

According to the ED, Chavan played a role in obtaining work orders in favour of M/s Force One Multi Services, circumventing eligibility criteria laid down by BMC/MCGM, against which he received tainted funds amounting to Rs. 1.35 Crore out of generated proceeds of crime, acquired by defrauding BMC/MCGM and by supplying Khichdi packets of lesser quantity.

The said proceeds of Rs 1.35 crore were acquired by Suraj Chavan in the guise of salary and loan from Force One Multi Services and were diverted to his personal name to acquire the attached immovable properties in Mumbai and Ratnagiri.

In the afternoon, Amol Kirtikar’s lawyer reached ED office and sought more time for his client to remain present before the ED. The lawyer reportedly told the agency officials that the notice was served on a very short notice. And since Kirtikar is caught up with too many pre-decided events to attend, he needed more time to join the probe.