Mumbai: A case of cheating has been registered against Maharashtra BJP leader Kirit Somaiya and his son Neil. An official said on Thursday that Mumbai Police registered case against them for alleged swindling of over ₹ 57 crore funds collected to save aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.
The case was filed on the basis of a complaint filed by a former Army Personnel. The case has been registered on Wednesday evening at Trombay police station at suburban Mankhurd, he said.
Indian Navy Ship Vikrant was a Majestic-class aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy. The ship was laid down as HMS Hercules for the British Royal Navy during World War II, but was put on hold when the war ended. It had played a key role enforcing the naval blockade of East Pakistan during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971.
The complaint stated that a campaign raising funds for INS Vikrant was started by Kirit Somaiya. The former Army Personnel said that he had given donations to Kirit Somaiya for saving the ship and the BJP leader had collected more than ₹ 57 crore for the purpose. However, he alleged that BJP leader didn’t deposit the amount to the Maharashtra governor’s secretary office, instead he swindled the funds.
On Wednesday, to raise the issue, local Shiv Sena leaders had met with the police authorities.
Based on the complaint, a case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 34 (common intention) was registered against Kirit Somaiya, his son Neil and others, the police official said.
On Wednesday, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut had accused Kirit Somaiya for swindling off ₹ 57 crore collected from the people under the fund raising campaign for saving INS Vikrant.
Rejecting the allegation, Kirit Somaiya had said that if Sanjay Raut has any evidence, he should hand it over to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
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