ED says businessman Sujit Patkar played key role in COVID-19 centres 'scam'; court extends remand

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Sujit Patkar, a friend of Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, played a crucial role in criminal activities related to alleged irregularities in managing COVID-19 treatment centres in Mumbai and hatching a conspiracy with other partners of his firm as well as BMC officials, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) told a special court on Thursday. Patkar, arrested on July 19, received a «substantial» amount of proceeds of crime in his personal bank account from his company, Lifeline Hospital Management Services (LHMS), said the ED here while seeking extension of the businessman's remand in a money laundering case related to the alleged scam.

Patkar and another accused in the case, Kishore Bisure, were produced before special PMLA court judge M G Deshpande at the end of their previous remand on Thursday. The court extended the ED remand of Patkar till August 1, while Bisure was sent to jail under judicial custody as the probe agency did not seek his further custody.

The duo was arrested on July 19 by the central agency under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED has claimed Lifeline Hospital Management Services — a partnership firm of Patkar and three others — received Rs 31.84 crore from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for supply of medical personnel for managing COVID-19 centres set up by the civic body during the pandemic to treat coronavirus patients.

The firm, established in June 2020 (just after coronavirus outbreak), was granted the contract despite not having any experience of providing medical personnel or services, it said. Seeking further custody of Patkar, the financial crimes probe agency claimed he had received a «substantial» amount of proceeds of crime from Lifeline Hospital