NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into the alleged money laundering against Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut revealed his deep connection with close associate Pravin Raut.
The probe by the financial agency revealed that Sanjay Raut “received” ₹2 lakhs per month from Pravin Raut. ED probe also revealed that Pravin Raut also took care of Rajya Sabha MP’s, and his family’s, “domestic and foreign tours”.
Sanjay Raut was arrested by ED on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday. The move followed an early morning search at the influential political leader’s two residences in Mumbai, which was followed by questioning for several hours.
On Monday, a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court sent Sanjay Raut, who is also Shiv Sena’s spokesperson, to four-day ED custody. The ED had demanded eight days of custody of the Sena leader.
The ED claimed in court that its money laundering investigation revealed that Sanjay Raut infused or used a significant amount of cash in the purchase of land at Kihim in Alibaug, which was confirmed by some of the sellers.
“This cash component has been sourced from Pravin Raut,” the ED alleged.
“Pravin Raut has also spent money from the Proceed of Crime on the domestic and foreign tours undertaken by the family of Sanjay Raut,” the ED proclaimed. “Sanjay Raut has also received ₹2 lakhs per month in cash from Pravin Raut during the said period,” the financial probe agency alleged.
In its remand application, the ED also said that the 47 acres of land at Patra Chawl in Goregoan belongs to MHADA and there were 672 tenants at the said plot.
Guru Ashish Constructions Pvt Ltd obtained various permissions/approvals for the redevelopment and additional FSIs, resulting in the generation of Proceeds of Crime. Pravin Raut was one of the directors of the firm.
“Pravin Raut, as a proxy of Sanjay Raut, liaised with authorities in obtaining permissions or clearance etc from time to time, which is the primary reason for generation of Proceeds of Crime of ₹1,039.79 crores,” the ED said.
Out of ₹112 crores received in the accounts of Pravin Raut, the PMLA investigation conducted so far established the trail of ₹1.06 crores to Sanjay Raut and his family, the ED alleged.
The ED further stated that the Sena strongman has threatened the sellers to sell their land situated at Kihim beach, Alibaug and also threatened the witnesses who have deposed before ED.
The ED also said that Sanjay Raut and Pravin Raut played a “key role” in the execution of illegal transactions and have actively participated in siphoning of proceeds of crime resulting from criminal activity related to the scheduled offence.
Sanjay Raut is an actual beneficiary of the said proceeds of crime, the ED further alleged.
The ED had previously attached property worth ₹9 crores belonging to Sanjay Raut’s ‘aide’ Pravin Raut and assets worth around ₹2 crores belonging to Sanjay Raut’s wife Varsha in the ₹1,034-crore Patra Chawl land scam case.
The financial probe agency had filed a charge sheet in a money laundering case against Pravin Raut.