Army veteran has accused duo of misappropriating funds collected for restoration of INS Vikrant
Shiv Sena workers during a protest against Somaiya on Thursday
BJP leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya and his son Neil Somaiya, who have been booked for alleged misappropriation of funds collected for restoration of INS Vikrant, skipped the police summons on Saturday morning.
The father-son duo had been asked to appear before the Trombay Police, which is investigating the case. Somaiya’s advocate Hrishikesh Mundargi arrived at the police station and told the police that the Somaiyas were in Delhi due to prior engagements. Meanwhile, the Somaiyas have moved Anticipatory Bail Application (ABA) in the sessions court and the hearing has been scheduled for Monday.
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Kirit Somaiya
Baban Bhosale, a veteran army man, had registered a complaint alleging misappropriation of funds by Somaiya and his son Neil. In his complaint, he has alleged that in 2013, while he was passing through Churchgate railway station, he saw Somaiya, Neil and others collecting money to restore INS Vikrant and convert it into a war museum. He claimed to have donated Rs 2,000 in the box. In the next few months, he learnt that INS Vikrant had been scrapped. An RTI query to Raj Bhavan asking whether funds collected by Somaiyya had been sent for the restoration project, revealed that no such money had been received.
The Trombay Police registered an FIR against the Somaiyas on April 7, under various sections of the IPC. They were summoned to appear for investigation on Saturday morning. “Somaiya’s advocate told us that Kirit and Neil will be back next week and sought time after April 13 for the investigation,” a senior officer said, on condition of anonymity.
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