Sanjay Raut is a 'khichdi chor', says Sanjay Nirupam

Sanjay Nirupam, who recently quit Congress, stoked the Maharashtra Khichdi controversy again on April 8, calling Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut "the main kingpin of the scam".

Sanjay Raut took a bribe of Rs 1 crore in the name of his family and partner, Nirupam alleged. His daughter, however, is innocent and unaware of such things, he added.

"When I started working on this scam, I came to know that the 'kingpin' was someone else. The kingpin in this whole scam is Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson, Sanjay Raut...," Nirupam said while speaking to reporters at a press conference on Monday.


Stepping up his attack, Nirupam said, "Raut is a 'Khichdi chor' and ED should arrest such people."

According to Nirupam, accused company Sahyadri Refreshments had paid bribes in cheques which were deposited in the bank accounts of Raut’s daughter, his brother and one of his partners.

The ED on Friday issued a second summons to Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha candidate Amol Kirtikar for questioning in his alleged involvement in the scam.

The allegations pertain to a Covid-time BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) scheme, under which it had awarded Sahyadri Refreshments a contract to provide 300 gms ‘khichdi’ at Rs 35/plate to the stranded migrants during the lockdown.

The former Congress leader has lately been in the news frequently over the resignation from the party just ahead of the national elections. According to various insider accounts, Congress was already in the process of showing him the door when Nirupam himself resigned -- in a development that came out of the blue.

Nirupam's tiff with Congress came to a head last week when he launched a tirade against the party’s top leadership as well as Maha Vikas Aghadi ally SS (UBT) leaders.

On being asked where he will go (joining any political party), Nirupam said he had not decided yet.

"Talks will start during the Navratri and then I'll decide where to go," he said.