New Delhi, August 5, 2023: The Economic Offenses Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police has filed a case against former city mayor and Shiv Sena leader Kishori Pednekar, along with two civic officials, over alleged corruption in the purchase of body bags meant for COVID-19 victims. The case was registered at the Agripada police station on Friday, following a complaint filed by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya in July.
Kishori Pednekar, who belongs to the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of Shiv Sena, served as the mayor from November 2019 to March 2022. The case against her and the two senior officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 420 (cheating) and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy).
According to Somaiya, the complaint was related to the body bag scam, where bags worth ₹1,500 each were purchased at ₹6,700 apiece, leading to the embezzlement of funds worth crores of rupees. The BJP leader expressed satisfaction with the police action, stating, “Based on the complaint, the Mumbai police has now registered the First Information Report (FIR) against Kishori Pednekar and Assistant Municipal Commissioner.”
The case has garnered attention as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also conducted raids in connection with the alleged corruption. However, further details about the case have not been released by the police.
The incident has raised concerns about misappropriation of funds and corruption during the pandemic, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability in public procurement processes. Authorities are closely scrutinizing the matter, and the legal proceedings will shed light on the alleged irregularities.
As investigations continue, the public awaits more information on the body bag scam, and its implications on the city’s healthcare response during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
