On Sunday, an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team arrived at Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut’s Mumbai residence. Raut was being investigated by the ED in connection with a money laundering case involving alleged irregularities in the redevelopment of a Mumbai ‘chawl.’ According to ED sources, the leader could be taken to its zonal office by 2 p.m., and Raut was not cooperating with the agency as needed.
Raut was previously summoned by the investigation agency on July 20 in the Patra Chawl land scam case, which he skipped and informed his lawyers that he could only appear after August 7 due to the ongoing Parliament session. He recorded his statement for the first time on July 1. The ED had attached Raut’s properties in Dadar and Alibag in this case.
According to sources, the agency wants to question Sanjay Raut about his “business and other links” with Pravin Raut, as well as his wife’s property deals, and the leader may be taken to the ED office later. It will be determined whether or not an arrest will be made, they added.
According to sources, ED officials are not allowing anyone in the Raut family to speak on the phone. They stated that the team is looking for documents and that the family has not been informed of the next steps.
In the midst of the turmoil, Raut tweeted, “Maharashtra and Shiv Sena will continue to fight.” Later, he referred to it as a “false case, false evidence.” “I am not involved in any scam.” This I declare by taking the oath of Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray. Balasaheb had taught us how to fight… “I will keep fighting for the Shiv Sena,” he said.
In a statement, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said, “The investigation is underway.” Why is he afraid if he hasn’t done anything wrong? He was a significant MVA leader. One should not attend our party if they are afraid of the ED.”
What is the Patra Chawl Land Scam Case all about?
In 2007, Guru Ashish Construction Pvt Ltd signed an agreement with the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) to provide new homes to 672 tenants of Patra Chawl in Mumbai’s Goregaon suburb, then develop flats for MHADA and sell the remaining area to private developers.
According to the ED, Pravin Raut and the other directors of Guru Ashish Constructions did not construct a single house for the 672 displaced tenants. They actually sold the floor space index for Rs 901.79 crore to nine private developers.
Furthermore, Guru Ashish Constructions launched a project called The Meadows and received bookings from flat buyers worth approximately Rs 138 crore. Guru Ashish Constructions’ total proceeds of crime from these “illegal activities” amount to Rs 1,039.79 crore, according to the ED.
What Does ED Have to Say?
According to the ED, Pravin received Rs 100 crore from HDIL and “diverted” it to various accounts of “his close associates, family members, and business entities,” including Sanjay Raut’s family.
According to the ED, Varsha Raut received Rs 83 lakh in criminal proceeds from Madhuri Raut, Pravin Raut’s wife, in 2010. Varsha Raut used the funds to buy a Dadar apartment. Varsha Raut also transferred Rs 55 lakh to Madhuri Raut after the ED investigation was launched. There are also several other transactions,” the ED added.
“During the aforementioned time period, eight plots of land at Kihim beach in Alibaug were also purchased in the names of Varsha Raut and Swapna Patkar, wife of Sujit Patkar, a close associate of Sanjay Raut.” Aside from the registered value, cash payments were made to the sellers in this land transaction. Following the identification of these and other assets of Pravin Raut, a provisional attachment order attaching all of Pravin Raut’s and his associates’ assets was issued,” the ED had previously stated, according to reports.