The so-called 'Khichdi Scandal' is now the talk of Maharashtra politics. With the general elections looming, politicians from ruling and opposition parties are vehemently attacking each other over this alleged scam. The uproar began when expelled Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam, targeting Shiv Sena (UBT), claimed at a press conference that Uddhav Thackeray's party had fielded a 'Khichdi thief' as their candidate - Amol Kirtikar from Mumbai North West constituency.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) interrogated Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Amol Kirtikar regarding suspected irregularities in the distribution of khichdi by the BMC during the COVID-19 pandemic. The law enforcement agency grilled Kirtikar for about eight hours at their Mumbai office, investigating his alleged role in the scandal and tracing transactional evidence in his bank account amounting to 1.65 crore rupees received presumably from the khichdi contract firm.
The Khichdi Scandal name originated from a food distribution scheme initiated by the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) during the April 2020 COVID lockdown to aid needy daily wage workers and the poor. With no work or means to secure food during the lockdown, the BMC provided them with khichdi. The tender for cooking khichdi stipulated that only entities capable of producing five thousand food packets could be contracted. Additionally, NGOs, charitable institutions, and community kitchens would be given contracts with licenses. Subsequent revelations suggested that the contracts were awarded in violation of norms and were allegedly associated with bribery. The investigative agency disclosed that a sum of 8 crore rupees had been transferred into the account of 'Force One Multi Services,' which was granted the khichdi contract, by the BMC.
Furthermore, it emerged that the 250 grams of khichdi meant to be distributed to workers was halved to only 125 grams, indicating potential fraud in the distribution process itself.
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, a whistleblower in this case, initially filed a complaint, which was investigated by Mumbai Police's Economic Offence Wing (EOW). The complaint implicated large-scale corruption in the awarding of khichdi contracts by the BMC during the lockdown. According to the allegations set forth by Somaiya, Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut's brother and daughter were also found to have allegedly received money from contractors for the khichdi supplies during the lockdown. Following the registration of the FIR, ED commenced a money laundering case related to the alleged scandal.
Following ED's action, it was revealed that Suraj Chauhan, a close confidante of Aaditya Thackeray, had allegedly been wired 1.35 crore rupees by a contractor, which he attempted to pass off as consultancy fees. Chauhan, after being grilled by ED officials, claimed to have provided manpower to the firm awarded the food packet distribution contract during the lockdown.
Suraj Chauhan later found himself under scrutiny when documents related to the manpower provision contract emerged, apparently fabricated post-hoc and backdated following an ED summons. Discoveries also uncovered conversations between Chauhan and the contract firm owner, inquiring about specific dates to include in the contract and what content should be written.
Now, Sanjay Nirupam, who switched from Congress to BJP, is making bold claims about the Khichdi Scandal. He dubbed Sanjay Raut as the kingpin of the scam, alleging that Raut had taken money in the names of his daughter, brother, and partner. Exposing the scandal, Nirupam alleged that Sahyadri Refreshments, which received a 6 crore rupee tender for khichdi distribution, paid a 1 crore rupee commission to Raut's relatives.
