Sanjay Raut, a Shiv Sena MP, was denied bail on Friday by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), who said that he had been working behind the scenes and had a significant part in the money-laundering case associated with the Patra Chawl scandal.
Sanjay Raut had submitted a bail application to the Special PMLA Court in Mumbai, and the ED had responded. On Friday, ED submitted a reply to a special PMLA court opposing Sanjay Raut’s request for bail and asserting that ED has adequate evidence to support the allegations of money laundering against Sanjay Raut.
In its response, ED noted that on September 15, it had submitted a supplemental criminal complaint against Sanjay Raut.
According to the report, Sanjay Raut’s initial criminal complaint was submitted on April 1, 2022.
While opposing Sanjay Raut’s request for bail, the enforcement directorate has made a number of accusations against him.
“The supplemental charge sheet, which was submitted on September 15, 2022, details Praveen Raut’s function as Sanjay Raut’s proxy and confidant in great detail. Sanjay Raut has been functioning covertly to escape prosecution, with Praveen Raut serving as his frontman “said ED.
The investigation agency rejected Raut’s assertion that the action against him was brought about out of malice or political vengeance.
It stated, “It is respectfully submitted that Sanjay Raut is fully involved in the offence of money laundering as specified in Section 3 and punished under Section 4 of the PMLA Act 2002.”
“Guru Ashish Construction Private Limited (GACPL) was contracted by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) to redevelop Patra Chawl for 672 tenants, but even before work began, GACPL sold the FSI to other developers for a total of 1034 crore. This Rs 1,034 crore came from the illicit and unauthorised sale of FSI to developers, which was considered the proceeds of crime (POC). Praveen Raut received 112 crores through Housing Development and Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL) out of the POC of 1034 crores “ED said.
The investigating agency added that the results of their preliminary inquiries showed Sanjay Raut had used Rs 3,27,85,475 from this POC to acquire assets.
“In addition to this expenditure, pleasure excursions and other costs were paid for using the proceeds of crime. In the supplemental prosecution case submitted by ED on September 15, specifics of the same expenses are detailed “It was added.
Varsha Raut, the wife of Sanjay Raut, and Swapna Patkar jointly owned eight land lots at Kihim near Alibag when the ED attached immovable properties worth Rs 11.15 crore to them in April of this year. These included a Dadar apartment that was owned by Varsha and was attached by the ED.
Sanjay Raut was called by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on June 28 in connection with the investigation into the Rs 1,034 crore Patra Chawl land scam and the prevention of money laundering.
In relation to the redevelopment of Mumbai’s Patra Chawl, Raut is being investigated. He will remain in jail until Monday (September 19).
Uddhav Thackeray’s former chief minister of Maharashtra has a good relationship with Raut.
In connection with alleged financial irregularities in the reconstruction of the Patra Chawl in suburban Goregaon, Raut was detained by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on August 1.
The Shiv Sena leader was first kept by the ED, but on August 8 was transferred to judicial custody for a period of 14 days. Raut’s detention was, however, prolonged by a special PMLA court on August 22 until September 5, and then again until September 19.
The Shiv Sena leader was taken into custody on August 1 after ED agents stormed his home on July 31. He had been held and questioned for several hours.
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