₹3 Crore Covid Relief Fund Scam: Mumbai NGO Under Scanner.

Exclusive: Mumbai NGO in ₹3 Crore Covid Food Scam; Linked to Former Corporator, Alleges Official Complaint

A major Covid relief fund scam in Mumbai is alleged in a bombshell official complaint. Shiv Seva Sanstha, an NGO, stands accused of misappropriating ₹2.97 crore meant for khichdi packets in Sion. The Sprouts News Special Investigation Team has accessed the complaint, which also alleges deep political ties behind the alleged fraud. It names trustees and points to a former corporator as the trust’s “real” operator.

The formal complaint, dated December 4, 2025, is addressed to Mumbai’s top police and charity officials. It specifically targets Shiv Seva Sanstha trustees Vinayak Koli and Bhavesh Telange, the latter identified as a BJP ‘Shakha Pramukh’. The document alleges a systematic misuse of pandemic aid funds intended for the city’s most vulnerable citizens during lockdowns.

The Core Allegation: 9.3 Lakh Phantom Meals

The alleged fraud centres on a MCGM work order dated April 14, 2020. This contract mandated supplying 300-gram khichdi packets at ₹32 each, twice daily to needy citizens. For the period between April 19, 2020, and March 12, 2021, the NGO received ₹2,97,19,648.

This payment translates to approximately 9.3 lakh food packets. The complainant, Special Executive Officer Payal Shah, argues this scale is “impossible”. She states distribution would have exceeded the ward’s entire population capacity, calling the figures “fraudulent”.

Political Links and Qualification Concerns Raised

The complaint makes a serious charge of funds being diverted “under political names”. It further unveils significant political connections behind the NGO’s operations. The document identifies the trust’s “real sanchalaks” (operators) as Rajesh and Rajeshree Shirwadkar.

Rajesh Shirwadkar is a two-term former corporator from the Sion area. The complaint alleges he and his wife are the key mediators who secured the BMC work order for the NGO. This raises acute questions about the award process and potential political patronage.

Furthermore, the complaint challenges the NGO’s basic eligibility. It asserts Shiv Seva Sanstha lacked the required kitchen infrastructure. The NGO also did not possess the mandated years of prior experience in food and supply operations, according to the allegations.

Formal Demands for FIR and NGO Deregistration

The complaint urges immediate, multi-agency action. Payal Shah has explicitly requested the filing of an FIR against Vinayak Koli and Bhavesh Telange. She has called for the Mumbai Police to take the “strictest action” in this alleged “large scale scam”.

Copies were sent to the Charity Commissioner of Mumbai, seeking institutional accountability. The demand is for a complete ban on the NGO and the cancellation of its registration. This aims to prevent it from receiving future public funds or contracts.

Systemic Vulnerabilities in Emergency Spending Exposed

This case exposes critical flaws in emergency welfare procurement. It highlights how urgency during crises like the Covid-19 pandemic can bypass standard due diligence. The involvement of a former corporator hints at deeper issues in local governance and contract awarding.

The complaint warns that without accountability, such misuse of taxpayer money will recur. It underscores a failure in oversight mechanisms five years after the pandemic’s peak. This serves as a major test for Mumbai’s administrative and policing systems.

Awaiting Official Response and Investigation

As of now, the Mumbai Police and Charity Commissioner have acknowledged the complaint. Official statements on registering an FIR or launching an inquiry are awaited. The accused individuals and the named former corporator have yet to issue public rebuttals.

This scandal raises urgent questions about the legacy of Mumbai’s Covid-19 relief efforts. It challenges authorities to audit other emergency contracts from the period. The outcome will be a benchmark for transparency in future disaster response spending.

This report is based on an official complaint document obtained and verified by Sprouts News. We have reached out to the accused parties and authorities for their statements. This is a developing story.

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Related Article: ₹100 Cr Scam Alleged in Sion SRA Housing Project.

Another Controversy

Exclusive: ₹100 Crore SRA Housing Scam Unearthed in Mumbai’s Sion, Linked to BJP Corporator’s Kin: Complaint

A massive ₹100 crore SRA housing scam in Mumbai has been alleged in a detailed complaint to multiple agencies. The scandal centres on the stalled Sion-Akar SRA project in the Bhandarvada area. A Sprouts News investigation has accessed the complaint naming key figures, including the husband of a BJP corporator. It alleges systematic fraud targeting a slum rehabilitation scheme stalled since 1995.

The complaint, filed with police, the Charity Commissioner, and the Enforcement Directorate, targets several individuals. It specifically names Rajesh Shirwadkar, the husband of BJP corporator Rajashree Shirwadkar. Also named are Bhavesh Telange, Vaibhav Vora, and their associates for orchestrating the alleged multi-crore fraud.

A Project Stalled for Decades: The Perfect Ground for Fraud

The Sion-Akar SRA Cooperative Housing Society project was initiated in 1995. Original records listed approximately 500 eligible slum dwellers from 412 structures, with 88 deemed ineligible. For twenty years, the project remained completely dormant, making it vulnerable to manipulation.

The complaint alleges fraudulent activity surged after 2015. This followed increased local political intervention in the stalled housing scheme. The core allegation involves the fabrication of documents to illegally inflate the beneficiary list.

The Fraud Mechanism: Fake Documents and Illegal Sales

Accusers claim fake documents were created to include names in the project’s Annexure-1 list. This allegedly made 100 to 150 new members illegitimately eligible for rehabilitation benefits. The fraud exploited the hopes of genuine slum dwellers waiting for homes.

A primary method was the illegal sale of tenement rights. The complaint alleges that several eligible slum tenements were sold for about ₹45 lakh each. These transactions purportedly fuelled the scam’s massive financial scale.

Beneficiary List Manipulation and Family Favouritism

The complaint details specific instances of alleged favouritism and forgery. Bhavesh Telange is accused of usurping 20-25 tenements in the names of his relatives. These include family members like Ketak Telange and Baliram Telange.

Furthermore, Vaibhav Vora and his relatives were allegedly shown as beneficiaries despite being ineligible. The complaint suggests a clear pattern of manipulating the beneficiary list for personal gain. This diverted flats meant for genuine, often impoverished, slum dwellers.

Nexus and Operations: A Brazen Modus Operandi

The entire alleged operation was run brazenly from a formal office. The complaint identifies the nerve centre as Office No. 401, Samruddhi Heights, Matunga. It states a raid there would yield crucial forged documents and evidence.

This indicates a highly organised racket rather than opportunistic fraud. The scale suggests deep insider knowledge of SRA processes and regulations. It points to a possible nexus between officials, middlemen, and political actors.

Formal Demands for ED, EOW Probe and FIR

The complainant, Atul Baban Bhise, has demanded an immediate, high-level investigation. He has called for a probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) or the Economic Offences Wing (EOW). The request underscores the scam’s complexity and significant financial magnitude.

A primary demand is the immediate registration of an FIR against all named accused. The complaint seeks to trigger a coordinated multi-agency response. This is crucial for following the complex money trail and securing convictions.

Systemic Failure in Slum Rehabilitation Exposed

This case exposes profound systemic vulnerabilities in Mumbai’s SRA scheme. Long-stalled projects become hotspots for corruption and exploitation. The alleged involvement of political family members raises serious governance questions.

It highlights how the promise of a home can be used to exploit vulnerable citizens. The scandal calls for an audit of other similarly stalled rehabilitation projects across Mumbai. The outcome will test the efficacy of the city’s anti-corruption framework.

Awaiting Action: A Test for Accountability

As of now, the complaint is under preliminary review by the mentioned agencies. No official statements have been released by the police or the ED regarding an investigation. The accused individuals have not yet publicly responded to these grave allegations.

This alleged ₹100 crore SRA scam represents a critical test for administrative accountability. It challenges authorities to clean up a sector meant to help the urban poor. All eyes are now on the response from Mumbai’s law enforcement and investigative agencies.

This report is based on an official complaint document obtained and verified by Sprouts News. We have contacted the named individuals and authorities for their statements. This remains a developing story.