Sarnaik urges CM to order probe against MMRDA chief
The ongoing Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe in connection with the money laundering case linked to Rahul Nanda’s TopsGrup Security Services Limited (TGSSL) has taken a new twist after Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik on Thursday lodged a complaint with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray against the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) commissioner RA Rajeev for alleged breach of secrecy by sharing key government information to the media. Sarnaik, who has been questioned earlier by ED in a similar case, has urged Thackeray to order an inquiry by the Chief Secretary and take legal action against Rajeev. Sarnaik in a complaint referred to Rajeev’s press statement in which he had said that clean chit has not been given to TopsGrup & Sarnaik in the money laundering case. Rajeev went to the ED office on February 16 and recorded his statement in this regard. Sarnaik added that Rajeev’s statement appeared in the press on February 17.
Sarnaik said ED had observed that a security contract was awarded to TopsGrup for six years comprising 2014-17 and 2017-2020. MMRDA and Rajeev have previously clarified that the case pertains to his predecessor's tenure, and that Rajeev' visit to the ED office was on behalf of MMRDA. The ED is probing alleged misappropriations in a contract bagged by Tops Group with the MMRDA. Rajeev was expected to throw light the contract and the terms of the contract to assist ED investigators.