Romell Group real estate developer Jude Romell was allowed to return home by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after being questioned for several hours regarding his involvement in the BMC Covid supply scam.
The ED conducted raids at 11 locations in Mumbai earlier today, uncovering irregularities and kickbacks amounting to ₹4000 crore related to Covid center supplies. As the investigation continues, Jude Romell has been instructed to appear for further questioning next week.
ED sleuths held Jude Romell on Wednesday afternoon
ED sleuths picked up Jude Romell Wednesday afternoon for money laundering and kickbacks linked to the Goregaon NESCO Covid Centre contracts.
Jude Romell sibling Domnic Romell is president of the apex body of private Real Estate developers in India - The Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (CREDAI) MCHI chapter and linked to MHADA CEO and VP Sanjeev Jaiswal under probe for irregularities in contracts for 5 Covid Centres during the pandemic.
Jaiswal was the BMC additional municipal commissioner during the pandemic and questioned by the ED last week for 24 properties valued at Rs 100 crore and Rs 15 crore FDs including Rs 5 crore FD in his wife name booked during Covid.
Jude Romell issues clarification
Jude Romell has clarified that his brother Domnic Romell was questioned by ED for the works amounting to Rs. 11.36 Crore towards the setting up of the NESCO Covid Centre by Romell Realtors.
ED Raids Multiple Locations
Multiple locations were raided in Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana belonging to various contractors and vendors who provided services and Covid supplies to BMC during pandemic.
The contractors had supplied fans and electrical fittings to make-shift Covid hospitals and setting up oxygen plants at highly inflated rates.
Ghatkopar-based contractor Romin Chheda had provided Oxygen plants at exorbitantly high payments of Rs 300 crore from the BMC. The contract work was done through an Allahabad, UP-based entity Highway Construction Company which was earlier penalised in the Byculla Zoo Penguin enclosure scam.
Another vendor Rahul Gomes of Oaks Management Consultancy supplied beds, fans, tents and other facilities at Covid fields hospitals in Dahisar, Worli, MMRDA, and Mulund and BKC part-2 paid Rs 40 crore under ED scrutiny was also searched.
