New Delhi: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut was Monday summoned for questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an alleged case of money laundering linked to a chawl redevelopment project.
The summons comes as the party battles a rebellion by a section of its MLAs, and faces the possible collapse of its government in Maharashtra, formed in coalition with the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party. Raut has been among the most vocal supporters of his party, and has earlier blamed the rebellion on the BJP’s “use” of central agencies like ED and CBI against rivals.
Raut has been asked to appear before the ED on 28 June.
The money laundering case pertains to alleged irregularities to the tune of Rs 1,034 crore in a chawl redevelopment project in Mumbai’s Goregaon area, sources in the ED claimed. The ED had earlier provisionally attached assets worth Rs 11.15 crore — including eight plots at Kihim beach, Alibaug and one flat at Dadar — owned by Raut, his wife and family friends.
“Raut needs to be confronted with fresh evidence in the case and has been called for questioning,” an ED source said.
Responding to his ED summons, Raut said it was a “conspiracy to stop me”.
“Even if you behead me, I won’t take the Guwahati route (a reference to the rebel MLAs, who have been camping in BJP-ruled Assam),” he added.
I just came to know that the ED has summoned me.
Good ! There are big political developments in Maharashtra. We, Balasaheb's Shivsainiks are fighting a big battle. This is a conspiracy to stop me. Even if you behead me, I won't take the Guwahati route.
Arrest me !
Jai Hind! pic.twitter.com/VeL6qMQYgr— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) June 27, 2022
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The alleged case
The case in question was registered by the ED in 2021 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Housing Development and Infrastructure Limited (HDIL), Messrs Guru Ashish Construction (an HDIL subsidiary), and HDIL promoters Rakesh and Sarang Wadhwan.
According to sources, Guru Ashish Construction was entrusted with the development of the Patra chawl by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), for the rehabilitation of 672 tenants on 47 acres of land.
The accused, however, allegedly fraudulently sold FSI (floor space index) worth Rs 1,000 crore, without building the mandatory tenements for the people living in the chawl.
Businessman Pravin Raut, who was arrested in February, negotiated the deal between MHADA and HDIL, the sources claimed.
The ED has also alleged that the directors of Guru Ashish Constructions misled the MHADA and managed to sell the FSI to nine developers, and collected approximately Rs 901.79 crore without constructing the rehab portions.
According to ED sources, around Rs 100 crore was also transferred from the HDIL to the account of Pravin Raut.
“The said proceeds were also diverted by him to companies and accounts of his family members,” the source said.
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
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