Khichdi scam: Bail for Suraj Chavan

HC grants bail to Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, arrested in Jan 2024, due to prolonged pretrial incarceration

- Karuna Nidhi

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Tuesday granted bail to Suraj Chavan, a Shiv Sena (UBT) functionary arrested in January 2024 in connection with a money laundering case pertaining to alleged irregularities in the distribution of khichdi by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to migrant labourers and homeless people during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chavan was granted bail because of his prolonged pretrial incarceration, with the court observing that keeping him in detention longer would violate his fundamental rights under Article 21 of the Constitution. "There seems to be no possibility that the trial would be concluded in a reasonable time," said the single-judge bench of justice Milind Jadhav. "His further incarceration shall not serve any useful purpose. Rather, it would amount to punishing him before guilt is proved."

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader walked out of Arthur Road Jail at 5.30 pm on Tuesday and went to his party chief Uddhav Thackeray's residence, Matoshree, later in the evening. Speaking to the media after meeting Chavan, Thackeray called him an "example of loyalty". "We are proud of the Suraj and his family. He faced a lot of pressure but remained a loyal Shiv Sainik. He has shown that all are not traitors and not ready to be sold," Thackeray said.