Who is responsible for Marathi schools shutting down in Mumbai?

For more than two decades, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) remained under the control of the Thackeray family. Under this power-centric system, a series of scams within the BMC have gradually come to light—facts that are now emerging clearly through investigations conducted by enforcement agencies. Among these cases, one of the most serious and sensitive is the Jumbo COVID Centre scam. During the COVID period, when patients in Mumbai were desperately struggling for ICU beds and oxygen, allegations surfaced that crores of rupees were misappropriated from the BMC treasury. The name that has emerged as the key conspirator in this scam is Sujit Patkar, a close associate of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) MP Sanjay Raut. This connection suggests that the issue goes beyond administrative negligence and instead serves as evidence of how the BMC was allegedly turned into an ‘ATM’ by awarding contracts to individuals close to those in power. The Pandemic and the Need for Jumbo COVID Centres In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought Mumbai to its knees. Government and private hospitals were running out of beds. In this backdrop, the BMC decided to establish large-scale Jumbo COVID Centres in Dahisar and Worli. These centres were expected to provide treatment to thousands of patients. However, instead of managing the centres directly, the BMC handed over operations to a private firm named Lifeline Hospital Management Services. This period coincided with the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, with Uddhav Thackeray serving as Chief Minister, while the BMC remained under Shiv Sena’s political dominance. Questions Over Contract Allocation According to investigating agencies, serious questions have been raised about whether Lifeline Hospital Management Services possessed the required qualifications, manpower, and experience when the contract was awarded. Because once operations began, the reality on the ground was found to be in clear violation of contractual terms. Notably, since the company’s head Sujit Patkar was closely associated with Sanjay Raut—an influential leader of the ruling party—investigators are probing whether political interference played a role in the contract allocation. Shocking Exposure of Fake Records Investigations by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing revealed several alarming facts: The required number of doctors, nurses, and medical staff were not actually deployed at the Jumbo COVID Centres Yet, full staffing was shown on paper Fake attendance sheets were prepared Salaries and service charges were claimed in the names of ‘ghost employees’ Investigators further found that at the Worli Jumbo COVID Centre, bills were approved by the BMC without any staff details being submitted. In other words, crores of rupees were paid without physical verification, purely based on fabricated documentation. ₹32 Crore Trail and Diversion of Funds According to the ED’s findings, between September 2020 and June 2022, Lifeline Hospital Management Services received approximately ₹32.44 crore from the BMC. This amount was meant for the management of the Jumbo COVID Centres. However, investigations revealed that these funds were diverted for personal property purchases, loan repayments, and real estate transactions. This indicates that money intended for COVID patient care was allegedly used for private gain. Who Bears Responsibility Within the BMC? The scam does not implicate only the private firm; several BMC officials have also come under suspicion. How bills were approved despite fake records, false attendance, and incomplete services remains a critical question. Dr. Kishor Bisure, the then Dean of the Dahisar Jumbo COVID Centre, was arrested in July 2023 He was granted bail in February 2025 Several BMC officials are accused of approving falsified documentation The case originated from an FIR registered by the Mumbai Police, after which the ED intensified the probe by filing a money-laundering case. The Jumbo COVID Centre scam has led to severe allegations against the power-centric system within the BMC. It stands as a stark example of how the BMC allegedly functioned as an ‘ATM’ during the era of dynastic rule. During the pandemic, Mumbai residents endured an unprecedented crisis. Many lost their loved ones. If the healthcare system was exploited during such a period, it constitutes not merely a financial scam but a profound betrayal of public trust. The case is currently under judicial consideration, and the final verdict rests with the courts. However, one reality has become evident—when India’s wealthiest municipal corporation falls prey to dynastic politics, political proximity, and a contract-driven culture, the ultimate cost is borne by ordinary citizens. With the upcoming BMC elections, this scam is no longer just a news story—it has become a decisive issue concerning the future of Mumbai’s administration. It has exposed a deeply entrenched culture of dynastic corruption. But Mumbai’s citizens will no longer tolerate this—because Mumbai is not the private estate of any single family. BMC is not a family business #notafamilybusiness