He had gone under the scanner of ED since the time he played a crucial role in the formation of the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi government which fell in June 29 after 31 months in power…reports Asian Lite News
The stormy petrel of Shiv Sena and four-time Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday, shall be produced before a special court later in the day.
After an 18-hour suspense starting with a raid by the ED on Raut’s home at dawn on Sunday, then his detention and grilling, the firebrand MP was finally arrested in the early hours of Monday in connection with the alleged Rs 1,034-crore Patra Chawl land scam case.
After a medical check-up, Raut shall be taken before a Special Court under Prevention of Money Laundering Act, where ED cases are usually heard, at around 11.30 a.m..
Raut, 61-year is a close aide of Shiv Sena President and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, plus the Chief Spokesperson of Shiv Sena and executive editor of the SAAMANA Group of newspapers.
Over the years, Raut became one of the most virulent critics of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) besides rallying together the various state and national Opposition parties.
He had gone under the scanner of ED since the time he played a crucial role in the formation of the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi government which fell in June 29 after 31 months in power.
Meanwhile, Sanjay Raut’s brother and Shiv Sena MLA Sunil Raut said that with the arrest, the BJP is trying to muzzle the voice of Shiv Sena.
“We are not scared by all this bogus actions… Raut saheb will fight, we all shall fight… the Shiv Sena will fight but will not now before the BJP, Sanjay Raut will never leave the Sena,” he said.
The ED had sent several summons to the Sena leader which he skipped, following which he has been arrested.
Earlier, a month back he had even dared the ED to arrest him.
The ED had earlier sent Pune businessman Avinash Bhosale into custody in DHFL-Yes Bank case, and the sources claimed that they wanted to grill Raut in this matter too.
Sources claimed that Patra Chawl case of ED is also linked to the DHFL case.
The Shiv Sena leader earlier took to Twitter to allege that he was being victimised on the instructions of the Centre.
In April, the ED had attached Raut’s property in connection with the land scam.
A property worth Rs 9 crore of Raut’s associate Pravin Raut and assets worth Rs 2 crore belonging to Varsha Raut, the wife of Sanjay Raut, were attached by the ED.
Pravin had eight parcels of land in Alibaug and a flat registered in the name of Varsha Raut which were attached. The ED had arrested Pravin in connection with the matter.
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