The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is set to investigate an alleged scam involving the supply and installation of oxygen plants in Mumbai during the Covid-19 pandemic. According to sources, the ED will soon register an ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report), which is similar to a police First Information Report (FIR). The ED’s action comes after the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai police filed an FIR against a contractor and civic officials involved in the case.
The investigation by the ED has revealed inflated prices in oxygen supply contracts for Mumbai’s jumbo Covid centers. It was found that the contractor, Romin Chedda of Highway Construction Company, billed the civic body for Rs 140 crores, but actually procured the oxygen for only Rs 40 crore from a Delhi-based supplier. This has caused significant financial losses for the civic body.
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Interestingly, Chedda was awarded the contract despite being blacklisted under different names and services. He is reportedly linked to prominent leaders of the Shiv Sena (UBT) party and his firms have received several contracts from Mumbai’s civic body in the past.
The ED has been conducting raids and investigations related to suspicious contracts awarded by the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) during the Covid-19 period. In July, the ED seized Rs 1.02 crores during raids on Chedda’s premises. Two individuals, Sujit Patkar and Dr Kishor Bisure, were also arrested by the ED in connection with the case. Their firm, Lifeline Hospital Management Services, had allegedly employed only half of the required staff at two jumbo centers, despite billing BMC for Rs 32 crores.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has responded to the alleged scam, with ex-MP Kirit Somaiya stating that Romin Chedda had received contracts worth over 100 crores for supplying oxygen, despite running only two shops. He also called for transparency from BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal regarding the influence behind awarding contracts to Chedda.
The ED has obtained documents and the FIR from Mumbai Police officials related to the oxygen supply case and is expected to register the ECIR soon. Several high-ranking officials, leaders, and politically connected individuals are under scrutiny in this ongoing investigation.
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