The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut at midnight after questioning for over six hours in the Patra Chawl land scam case. However, Raut claimed he is innocent and is being framed. MP Sanjay Raut said there was a conspiracy going on to weaken Shiv Sena and Maharashtra.
Raut was earlier summoned by the probe agency on July 20, which he skipped and informed through his lawyers that due to the ongoing Parliament session, he could appear only after August 7. He had recorded his statement once on July 1. The ED had attached Raut’s properties in Dadar and Alibag in the case.
Here’s everything you need to know
1. An Enforcement Directorate (ED) team showed up at Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut’s residence in Mumbai on Sunday Morning and was probed in connection with a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities involving the re-development of a Mumbai ‘chawl’.
2. After conducting hours of search, the ED detained him in the evening and started questioning around 7 pm.
3. Protests erupted in various parts of the country after the central agency turned up the heat on Sanjay Raut. Shiv Sena workers protested in parts of Jammu and Pune against the ED action.
4. The ED seized cash worth Rs 11.50 lakh from Sanjay Raut’s residence on Sunday during the raid conducted in connection with the Patra chawl land scam case.
5. Raut was booked under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 and will be produced in the PMLA court likely on Monday afternoon.
6. Even as the central probe agency seized cash worth Rs 11.50 lakh from the MP’s house, his lawyer, Vikrant Sabne claimed that no document related to Patra chawl was taken into ED custody.
7. The Sena leader will be produced before a court in Mumbai later today, where the Enforcement Directorate will seek his custody, according to PTI.
8. Raut was being investigated by the ED in connection with a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities involving the re-development of a Mumbai ‘chawl.’ Earlier, the probe agency had attached assets worth over Rs 11.15 crore of Sanjay Raut’s wife, Varsha, and two of his associates as part of their investigation in the case.
9. The agency wants to question Sanjay Raut to know about his “business and other links” with Pravin Raut and Patkar and also about the property deals involving his wife.
10. After arresting Pravin Raut in February, the ED had said he appeared to be “acting as a front” or in collusion with some influential person(s).
WHAT IS THE CASE?
In 2007, Guruashish Constructions, a sister concern company of HDIL (Housing Development and Infrastructure Ltd), was awarded contract for redevelopment of Patra Chawl by MHADA (Maharashtra Housing and Development Authority).
Guruashish constructions had to develop flats for 672 tenants of Patra Chawl and about 3000 flats had to be handed over to MHADA. The total land parcel was of 47 acres and remaining land after handing over flats to MHADA and Patra Chawl tenants was to be allowed for sale and development by Guruashish constructions.
Guruashish constructions did not redevelop the Patra chawl or any other flats that had to be handed over to MHADA and sold land parcels and FSI to around eight other builders for Rs 1,034 crores.
Pravin Raut, now arrested by ED, was one of the directors in the firm along with Sarang and Rakesh Wadhawan of HDIL, who are prime accused in PMC bank scam case.
In March 2018, MHADA filed an FIR against Guruashish constructions. In February 2020 Pravin Raut was arrested by EOW, while Sarang Wadhawan was arrested by EOW in September same year. Pravin Raut was later released on bail.
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