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The predicament for Kishori Pednekar, the former Mayor of Mumbai associated with the Shiv Sena (UBT), deepened on Tuesday as a sessions court dismissed her application for anticipatory bail. This development followed her interrogation by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Crime Branch concerning the controversial procurement of body bags during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Seeking to evade potential arrest, Pednekar had sought anticipatory bail; however, her plea was denied by Additional Sessions Judge SB Joshi. Similar pre-arrest bail was also denied to two other individuals implicated in the case.
The EOW of the city police initiated a case against Pednekar and two high-ranking officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), including Additional Commissioner P Velarasu. They are accused under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 420 (cheating) and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy).
Sources close to Velarasu emphasized that decisions regarding the procurement of body bags adhered strictly to established regulations. Given that these body bags were intended for transporting the remains of Covid-19 patients, meticulous efforts were made to ensure the acquisition of completely leak-proof bags.
This case is linked to an alleged “scam” involving the handling of funds for Covid-19 centers and financial improprieties in the purchase of body bags, masks, and other supplies by the BMC during the pandemic.
The genesis of the case traces back to a complaint lodged with the EOW by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya last month.
Pednekar countered the allegations, asserting that the complaint against her “is tainted with mala fides, politically motivated, and made with an ulterior motive.”
Her plea argued that Somaiya, a former Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai, has a history of targeting politicians who are not aligned with his party, suggesting habitual complainant tendencies.
