The Mumbai Court has extended the judicial custody of Shiv Sena’s MP Sanjay Raut for 14 days in a money laundering case.
By Crox Media Desk: Shiva Sena Spokesperson and Uddhav Thackeray’s close aide Sanjay Raut’s judicial custody was extended to two weeks in a money laundering case. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on August 1 after being questioned for more than six hours in the Rs 1,034 crore Patra Chawl Land scam.
The ED stated that Raut assisted the accused in committing fraud, and in exchange, he paid nearly Rs. 1.5 crore to his wife Varsha Raut through different methods.
The central agency had arrested Sanjay Raut in connection with financial irregularities in the reconstruction of Patra Chawl in Suburban Goregaon and property related transactions related to his wife and other associates. As per the official documents, Sanjay Raut’s friend and prime accused Pravin Raut generated over Rs 112 crores in this scam.
As per the reports by ED, Pravin Raut, Rakesh Wadhawan, and Sarang Wadhawan conspired together and hatched a conspiracy to syphon money from the on-going project without even completing it, jeopardising the future of 672 tenants whose dwellings are already demolished. Pravin was the Director of Guruashish Construction Private Limited along with Sarang and Rakesh.
Being a friend of Sanjay Raut, Pravin Utlized his proximity with Sanjay Raut to obtain from the Mumbai Housing and Development Authority and other advantages that were best for him.
What exactly is the case?
Back in 2007, Guruashish Constructions, a sister company of HDIL ( Housing Development and InfrastructureLimited),) was actually awarded the contractforf redeveloping Patra Chawl by MHADA.
Guruashish did not redevelop the Patra Chawla for its 672 tenants, and around 3000 flats needed to be handed over to MHDA. And Patra Chawl tenants were allowed to sell and develop these flats.
Instead of handing over the flats, Guruashish Constructions sold the land parcels and FSI to around eight other builders for around Rs 1,034 crore.
Pravin Raut was arrested by ED and was one of the directors, along with Sarang and Rakesh, of HDIL.
In 2018, MHADA filed an FIR against Guruashish Constructions. In 2020, Pravin Raut was arrested by ED, while Sarang was arrested by EOW. Pravin was later granted bail. The ED then lodged a case and arrested Pravin Raut, as he was the prime accused. And after six hours of questioning, Sanjay Raut was arrested.
