In connection with the Patra Chawl case, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut has been detained by the Enforcement Directorate till August 4.
Earlier in the day, the ED brought Raut before a special sessions court in connection with a money laundering case alleging anomalies in the reconstruction of a chawl in Mumbai. Before appearing in court, Sena leader was brought to the JJ hospital for a medical examination.
ED officers stormed the Shiv Sena leader’s residence on Sunday and detained him in the early hours of today after holding and questioning him for many hours.
Raut is linked to Uddhav Thackeray, the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
Prior to his arrest, Sanjay Raut’s brother said yesterday: “Sanjay Raut has been arrested. BJP is afraid of him and got him arrested. They haven’t given us any document (regarding his arrest). He has been framed.”
Meanwhile, another FIR was filed in Mumbai against Sanjay Raut for allegedly threatening Swapna Patkar, the wife of Sujit Patkar, a Shiv Sena MP’s close aide.
The charge was filed at the Vakola police station under sections 504,506 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code. Raut was purportedly heard threatening Swapna Patkar in an audio tape that went viral.
Notably, Swapna Patkar is a witness in the Patra Chawl land case, in which the ED apprehended Raut on Sunday following a raid at his home.
Meanwhile, security surrounding the ED office and JJ hospital has been beefed up, with over 100 officers assigned to deal with any law and order issues. Satyabrata Kumar, the Additional Director (ED), was also present.
