Khichdi distribution 'scam': Bombay HC grants bail to Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Suraj Chavan
Mumbai (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Tuesday granted bail to Shiv Sena (UBT) functionary Suraj Chavan in a money laundering case linked to an alleged scam in the distribution of 'khichdi' packets to migrant workers in Mumbai during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Justice Milind Jadhav allowed Chavan's bail application, noting that he was in prison for more than one year and the trial was not likely to be completed "in the foreseeable future".
"If applicant's detention is further continued, it would amount to the infringement of his fundamental rights under Article 21 of the Constitution of India of a speedy trial and guarantee of personal liberty," the court said.
The Enforcement Directorate arrested Chavan, a core committee member of the Yuva Sena, youth wing of the Uddhav Thackeray-led party, in January 2024.
The money laundering case of the ED stems from a First Information Report registered by the Mumbai police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW).
As per the ED, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) transferred Rs 8.64 crore into the bank account of Force One Multi Services to distribute khichdi packets to migrant workers who were stranded in the city during the lockdown on account of COVID-19.
There was a scam of Rs 3.64 crore, of which Rs 1.25 crore were diverted to Chavan's bank account and Rs 10 lakh to the account of his partnership firm Fire Fighters Enterprises, the ED claimed.
Chavan, thus, acquired "proceeds of crime" of Rs 1.35 crore which he used to buy property and invest in dairy business, the central agency alleged.
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Body of Bihar Police personnel found hanging in barracks in Patna
Patna (PTI): The body of a Bihar Police personnel was found hanging from the ceiling of a room in his barracks here, a senior officer said on Sunday.
Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Kartikeya Sharma said a havildar with Bihar State Armed Police-1, popularly known as "Gorkha battalion", died allegedly by suicide as he had been suffering from some ailment.
The deceased left behind "two suicide notes", one in Hindi and the other in his native language Nepali.
"From the suicide notes, it appears that Navraj Sunar, the deceased havildar, had been suffering from some ailment which had caused him much mental anguish and may have driven him to take the extreme step," the SSP said.
The body was being sent to the native village of the deceased in Nepal after a post-mortem examination, while further investigations were on, with forensic experts inspecting the site of the incident.
