Former Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar booked in Covid scam

Mumbai (IANS). The Economic Offenses Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police has registered a case against high-profile former mayor of Mumbai, Kishori Pednekar of the Shiv Sena (UBT) in an alleged scam related to the purchase of body bags for Covid during the pandemic.

Agripada police station has registered a case against Pednekar and two other officials in this regard. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also probing it.

Last month, the ED had carried out raids at a few places after BJP’s Kirit Somaiya raised the issue of irregularities in the tender process.

It was alleged that the cost of body bags meant for carrying those who died of Covid was hardly Rs 2,000, but they were bought for Rs 6,800.

Somaiya, who lodged the complaint on July 13, claimed that body bags worth Rs 1,500 were bought for Rs 6,700. Police have booked Additional Municipal Commissioner Pednekar and Aurangabad-based private company, Vedanta Innotech Pvt Ltd, in the matter.

The issue was highlighted by anti-corruption activist Anjali Damania in January 2020. It pointed to a scam over exorbitant prices for the purchase of body bags and claimed that the rates were almost double the rate paid in the US.

Somaiya said he is probing three more complaints in separate cases.