BJP expresses unhappiness as BMC denies ACB nod to probe official

BJP leaders, including deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, had raised the issue in the state legislature.

Mumbai: BJP leaders, who had alleged corrupt practices by assistant municipal commissioner Manish Walanju during the Covid-19 pandemic, have expressed unhappiness over the civic body’s decision to reject a permission to conduct an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) probe against the official.

HT Image

They had alleged that Walanju’s father was director of Genehealth Diagnostics that had received a contract for Covid testing when he was heading L ward of Kurla.

However, his successor, Mahadev Shinde, wrote to the ACB’s additional commissioner Lakhmi Gautam about closure of the file in April 2022 when the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government was in power.

BJP leaders, including deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, had raised the issue in the state legislature.

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya said, “Walanju’s father got a contract without proper qualification. Without studying the issue, the BMC has indulged in a cover up. It is not acceptable.”

Andheri West BJP MLA Ameet Satam said, “The BMC commissioner should give explanation as to why he refused a nod to ACB probe. Is the BMC trying to shield the corrupt? This is a wrong precedent.”

Apart from L ward, where Walanju was working, the company also received contracts in many other wards, the report prepared by Shinde mentioned.

Walanju, who now heads the K East ward spread over Andheri East, stated, “The said company was set up in 2020. My father was a director from June 3, 2021 to July 12, 2021 and he resigned thereafter. My father and I are two separate entities. We stay separately. The sanction to start inquiry was denied after following due process of law.’’