NEW DELHI, Aug 1: A Special court in Mumbai on Monday sent arrested Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut to Enforcement Directorate’s (ED’s) custody till August 4. The ED had asked for an eight-day custody after producing Raut in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court. But the special court granted the ED only four days.
He was arrested by the ED in a money laundering case related to the redevelopment of Patra chawl in Mumbai shortly after July 31 midnight after the agency conducted a search at his residence.
The Sena leader was allowed homemade food and medicine in the ED custody. In view of his illness, the necessary treatment and interrogation time should also be taken care of if needed, the court said.
“In view of the investigation so far and the facts found therein, I have come to the conclusion that the custody of the accused is necessary. But I do not agree to give 8 days’ custody. Hence the accused is given 4 days of ED custody,” the court said.
The ED, represented by special public prosecutor Hiten Venegaonkar told the court that Raut and his family were direct beneficiaries of the proceeds of crime. Raut was summoned four times but he appeared before the agency only once. During this, he tried to tamper with the evidence and key witnesses, the agency’s lawyer alleged.
Senior advocate Ashok Mundargi, appearing for Raut, submitted that since the Sena leader is a heart patient, he should not be questioned till late at night. The probe agency responded saying they normally inquire till 10 pm. “He is a patient with a heart-related ailment. He had also undergone surgery. Papers related to this have been presented before the court,” Mundargi said, adding that Raut’s arrest was politically motivated.
The state government had deployed heavy force at the Enforcement Directorate’s Mumbai office, the hospital where Raut was taken for a check-up, and at the court. About 200 police personnel were posted on these premises to ensure peace. Before he was taken inside the courtroom, Raut told the media, “This is a conspiracy to finish us.”
Raut, a Rajya Sabha MP, is a key member of Team Thackeray that is caught in a bitter tussle with the Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde. Shinde, now Maharashtra Chief Minister, led the rebellion that brought down the Uddhav Thackeray-led coalition government of Sena, Congress and the NCP.
Refuting suggestions that BJP national president J. P. Nadda, at a political event in Bihar, had spoken of the Shiv Sena being finished in Maharashtra, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis clarified that Nadda was referring to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena and not Eknath Shinde’s group.
On Sanjay Raut’s arrest by the ED, Fadnavis said, “An agency only conducts a probe on the basis of proof.” Slamming the BJP over the arrest of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, party chief Uddhav Thackeray said he was proud of him as he did not succumb to any pressure.
Talking to reporters in Mumbai, Uddhav Thackeray termed Raut as a hardcore Shiv Sainik of Sena founder late Bal Thackeray. “I am proud of Sanjay Raut. What crime has he committed? He is a journalist, a Shiv Sainik, is fearless and speaks what he does not approve of,” Uddhav Thackeray said. The former Maharashtra Chief Minister targeted the BJP for what he called vendetta politics.
His son and former Maharashtra Minister Aaditya Thackeray said, “This is political conspiracy to finish off the Shiv Sena and suppress Maharashtra’s voice.” Aaditya Thackeray is on a tour of Sindhudurg in the Konkan region. “He [Raut] runs a party and a paper [Sena mouthpiece Saamana]. So, the ED retrieving that sum of ₹10-11 lakh is no big deal. It clearly tantamounts to harassment of Raut… He is not a person who runs away from any investigation. The affair is a ploy on BJP’s part to finish-off the Opposition. The BJP wants an Opposition-free Parliament.” said Senior Congressman and Rajya Sabha MP Mallikarjun Kharge on the ED retrieving cash from the Sena MP’s house.
(Manas Dasgupta)
