In a significant development, the Bombay High Court has granted bail to Shiv Sena (UBT) functionary Suraj Chavan, who has been embroiled in a money laundering case linked to an alleged scam involving the distribution of ‘khichdi’ packets to migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Justice Milind Jadhav presided over the bail hearing and allowed Chavan’s application on Tuesday.
Suraj Chavan, a core committee member of the Yuva Sena, the youth wing of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), was arrested in January 2024 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The arrest followed allegations of financial misappropriation during the lockdown when migrant workers were provided meals.
The court highlighted that Chavan had already spent over a year in custody and pointed out the unlikely completion of the trial in the foreseeable future. Justice Jadhav emphasized, “If the applicant’s detention is further continued, it would amount to the infringement of his fundamental rights under Article 21 of the Constitution of India which guarantees a speedy trial and personal liberty.”
The case against Chavan stems from a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW). According to the ED, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had transferred Rs 8.64 crore to Force One Multi Services for distributing khichdi packets to the stranded migrant workers. However, it is alleged that there was a misappropriation of Rs 3.64 crore, with Rs 1.25 crore being diverted to Chavan’s bank account and Rs 10 lakh to his partnership firm, Fire Fighters Enterprises.
