• Notification Date: 18-10-2023
• Notification No: N/A

Income Tax Dept Raids Fake Covid Centers in Delhi, Mumbai, Gujarat

Mumbai's Income Tax investigation wing is conducting raids in multiple cities in connection with a case related to alleged irregularities in the Covid-19 centres set up by Mumbai civic body during the pandemic. 

Over a dozen locations are being raided in Mumbai, Gujarat, Prayagraj, Delhi and Pune. 

Raids are being conducted at several locations and companies that had contracts from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) during the Covid period. 

In June this year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided 15 locations in Mumbai in connection with the Covid-19 centres scam. The ED officials seized Rs 68.65 lakh in cash and documents of properties worth crores. 

ED also arrested Sujit Patkar, a close aide of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, and Dr Kishore in connection with the alleged scam. 

The Case: 

The case related to the Covid-19 jumbo centres scam was registered by the Mumbai Police in August 2022 on a complaint by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya. In October 2022, the case was transferred to the Mumbai police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW). Later, the ED registered a PMLA case in the matter. 

The case relates to the field hospitals set up in Mumbai by the government during the Covid-19 pandemic. The BMC was tasked with providing healthcare staff and other facilities on a contract basis. 

The BJP alleged that contracts were given at exorbitant rates to contractors linked to Shiv Sena leaders who had no prior experience in healthcare services.