Talking to reporters, Sanjay Raut said that a tender was floated by the state government for procurement of ambulances and its contract was awarded to a firm run by a close aide of Shrikant Shinde, son of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde
Sanjay Raut accused the Maharashtra govt of an "ambulance scam" of Rs 800 crore. File Pic
Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday accused the Maharashtra government of committing an "ambulance scam" of Rs 800 crore, claiming that the money involved was diverted to a foundation run by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, a charge rejected by the ruling Shiv Sena, reported with the PTI.
Talking to reporters, Sanjay Raut said that a tender was floated by the state government for procurement of ambulances and its contract was awarded to a firm run by a close aide of Shrikant Shinde, son of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
"The contract for procurement of ambulances worth Rs 800 crore was awarded to Sumeet Facilities Limited. Its actual cost was Rs 100 crore, but the amount was inflated," the Rajya Sabha member claimed, according to the PTI.
"This is the biggest scam in medical history. Amit Salunke of Sumeet Facilities is the financial backbone of the Shrikant Shinde Foundation. The money was diverted to the foundation. A team of (Anti-Corruption Bureau) Jharkhand came to Maharashtra and arrested Amit Salunke on Thursday in a liquor scam there. He is a very close aide of Eknath Shinde and Shrikant Shinde," he said, as per the PTI.
However, state Industries Minister and Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant rejected the allegations levelled by Sanjay Raut.
"The charges have no basis. Shrikant Shinde has proved his worth as a part of the (Operation Sindoor) delegation (to countries which was led by several MPs including Shrikant Shinde). Maharashtra's people will not attach any value to such allegations," the minister said, the news agency reported.
Sanjay Raut alleges Rs 350-crore scam in Ahilyanagar, targets Maharashtra government over corruption
Meanwhile, earlier this month, Sanjay Raut had levelled serious allegations of corruption amounting to Rs 350 crore in the Ahilyanagar Municipal Corporation.
Raut named local legislator and accused the state government of “turning a blind eye” to massive irregularities in municipal bodies across Maharashtra, reported the ANI.
Raut claimed that in areas where the government has not conducted elections -- or has no intention of doing so -- administrative officers have been appointed, and widespread misappropriation of public funds is taking place. He alleged that cities including Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Nagpur, and Mira-Bhayander are witnessing scams worth crores of rupees, citing one instance in Mira-Bhayander where “a garbage bin was purchased for Rs 70,000” and asked whether “the bin has gold studded on it,” according to the ANI.
He had also stated that several complaints were submitted to the Chief Minister and the anti-corruption department regarding the alleged corruption in Ahilyanagar.
Sanjay Raut further had claimed that Rs 350 crore had been spent on the construction of 776 roads in Ahilyanagar, “which are nowhere to be found”.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader alleged that elected representatives, administrative officials, and contractors are jointly misusing municipal funds, the ANI had reported.
(with PTI and ANI inputs)
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