Mumbai: Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, known for setting the day’s news agenda with his acerbically penned Saamana editorials and daily morning press conferences, is now writing a book on his incarceration.
Sunil Raut, Sanjay Raut’s brother and his only visitor in jail, told ThePrint that the Shiv Sena leader is writing his memoir and that he plans to pen down every detail.
“He is penning down his experiences of jail and is writing about the Enforcement Directorate [ED] arrest till his release,” he said, adding that the Sena leader will get the memoir published in the form of a book immediately after his release.
Sanjay Raut was arrested by the ED on 1 August in a money laundering case linked to alleged financial irregularities in the redevelopment of the Patra Chawl in suburban Goregaon, Mumbai.
Other than writing, Raut has also immersed himself in reading about politics and history. A member of the Shiv Sena for the past 33 years, he has also spent 32 years in editorial positions in Saamana, the party’s mouthpiece.
Naturally, his brother is fond of books and an avid reader, said Sunil, adding that he currently has about 60-70 books with him in jail and recently asked for some books on the late socialist leader George Fernandes.
“He mostly has political books and books on history that he is reading right now,” said Sunil.
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ED probe
The ED is probing the Patra Chawl redevelopment case where over Rs 1,000 crore was allegedly laundered. It has accused Raut of utilising proceeds worth Rs 3.27 crore, received through Pravin Raut, the primary accused, from the sale of the Floor Space Index (FSI) of the land in Goregaon, where the project was to be developed.
The ED filed a supplementary charge sheet against Sanjay Raut last month where it stated that he played a major role in the offence through his “proxy and confidant” Pravin Raut and “operating behind the curtain” to avoid leaving a trail.
On 4 October, a special court again denied Raut bail and extended his custody till 10 October.
A day in Raut’s life in jail
Lodged at Barrack No. 12 in Arthur Road Jail, a 15 ft by 20 ft space, Raut is usually up early in the morning. He buys his breakfast at the canteen, but the rest of his meals come from home since the court has allowed him to have homemade food and medicines, as long as the meat and fish dishes delivered are boneless, said Sunil.
Allowed to meet only once a week, Sunil visits his elder brother every Friday. His lawyer, who is allowed to meet him twice every week, goes on Mondays and Thursdays.
“I am the only family member who meets him inside the jail…. We speak on the intercom. As far as other leaders are concerned, they meet him if they wish to during court proceedings. Even his wife and daughter meet him in court only,” informed Raut.
Sanjay Raut, said Sunil, always says that the country’s condition currently is how it was pre-independence and that those freedom fighters who voiced their opinions were put behind bars.
“BJP president J.P. Nadda says that no regional party should remain. This is like an undeclared Emergency and Sanjay has consistently raised his voice against this,” said Sunil.
“Not just us, but the entire Maharashtra is waiting for his release. He was one of the very few people who dared to speak against the BJP. His oratory skills are unmatched. In terms of orating, there was only one Balasaheb Thackeray, one Indira Gandhi, and now one Sanjay Raut,” said the Shiv Sena MLA.
Members of Thackeray family have so far not met Raut in jail. In September, Uddhav Thackeray had sought permission from jail authorities to meet Raut in the jailer’s room but was refused and asked to seek the court’s permission instead.
Still popular
Despite his time in jail — over 60 days now — Raut’s importance in the Shiv Sena has not diminished.
In 2019, it was Sanjay Raut who had taken the initiative along with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and supported Uddhav’s decision to break ties with old-time ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
During the party address last month, Uddhav mentioned Sanjay Raut and his loyalty and kept a chair vacant for him on the dais. Then, at the Dussehra rally, a chair for him was left vacant again. During Navratri, Rashmi Thackeray, wife of Uddhav, visited Raut’s house for darshan.
“He is a loyal Shiv Sainik and did not kneel before the BJP. Hence his contribution is remembered. Because of his close relations with Uddhav Thackeray, and so that Maharashtra doesn’t forget him, his chair was kept empty at both rallies,” said Sunil.
The Sena MLA also told ThePrint that Sanjay Raut doesn’t meet his MVA colleague and former home minister Anil Deshmukh who is also lodged in Barrack No. 12. “He is not allowed to meet anyone else,” he said.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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