A Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court on Monday extended Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut’s judicial custody in the Patra Chawl land fraud case by 14 days, till September 19.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) detained Raut on August 1 in connection with alleged financial irregularities in the reconstruction of the Patra Chawl in Goregaon’s suburbs.
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 prolonged until September 5 by a special PMLA court on August 22, and it has now been extended till September 19.
The Shiv Sena leader’s residence was raided by ED investigators on July 31, and he was arrested on August 1 after being detained and questioned for many hours.
Sanjay Raut was called by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on June 28 this year in connection with the prevention of money laundering in the Rs 1,034 crore Patra Chawl land scam.
The wife of a Shiv Sena MP was also called by the CBI in August in connection with the Patra Chawl property matter.
The MP’s wife, Varsha Raut, was summoned by the federal agency after ED officers stormed the Shiv Sena leader’s residence and detained him (Sanjay Raut) after holding and questioning him for many hours.
Raut is a close associate of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Meanwhile, another FIR has been filed in Mumbai against Sanjay Raut for allegedly threatening Swapna Patkar, the wife of Sujit Patkar, who is thought to be a close aide to the Shiv Sena MP.
The charge was filed at the Vakola police station under Indian Penal Code sections 504,506, and 509. Raut was purportedly heard threatening Swapna Patkar in an audio tape that went viral.
Notably, Swapna Patkar is also a witness in the Patra Chawl land case, in which the ED apprehended Raut following a raid on his home.
During the raids, ED authorities confiscated Rs 11.50 lakhs in undeclared cash from his apartment, according to reports. Soon after being held by ED officers in connection with the Patra Chawl land fraud case, the Shiv Sena leader declared that he “would not be cowed down.”
In an interview with the media, Raut stated, “People are being falsely charged and given false documents. All of this is being done to damage the Shiv Sena and the state of Maharashtra. Sanjay Raut will not be intimidated. I’m not going to quit the party.”
Sanjay Raut was called by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on June 28 this year in connection with the prevention of money laundering in the Rs 1,034 crore Patra Chawl land scam.
Raut is being investigated in connection with the redevelopment of Patra Chawl in Mumbai.
The ED had attached immovable properties worth Rs 11.15 crore in April this year, including a property in Dadar owned by Sanjay Raut’s wife Varsha and eight land parcels in Kihim near Alibag owned jointly by the latter and Swapna Patkar.
