ED summons Civic Body Chief Iqbal Singh Chahal in illegal Covid center allotment case

ED summons Civic Body Chief
Iqbal Singh Chahal in illegal Covid center allotment case

Taking cognisance to case registered by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya against Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut’s close aide Sujit Patkar, the Enforcement Directorate on Friday summoned Iqbal Singh Chahal, Chief of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in a Covid center allotment case.

News comes to the fore that BMC had contracted the medical services provider for services in Jumbo Covid Centres, allegedly causing a loss of ₹38 crore to the BMC coffers.

According to Somaiya’s allegations LHMS was entrusted with the contract to set up two Jumbo Covid Centres – one at Dahisar and the other at Worli despite not having any experience in providing healthcare facilities or medical services. The firm got the contract on the basis of forged documents, including its partnership deed.

The BJP leader also alleged that the firm was blacklisted by the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority but it concealed this fact from the BMC and managed to get the contract for providing services to Jumbo Covid Centres.

Somaiya had earlier alleged that the pre-bid meeting for the 100-bed Jumbo facility at Dahisar was convened on June 25, 2020, and the expression of interest for the same was called on June 27. LHMS was established only on June 26 – a day after the expression of interests were invited.

Much prior to the partnership firm coming into existence, the accused had attended a pre-bid meeting and secured the contract for operation and management of Covid ICU beds at Dahisar, with request to mobilise manpower within seven days.

News Input K.V.Raman