“Sanjay Raut is Balasaheb Thackeray’s follower and a Shiv Sainik. He will fight and expose everyone. I’m not the one to stay quiet, let them dance. The truth will prevail,” said the Shiv Sena MP.
New Delhi: In connection with alleged irregularities in the redevelopment of the Patra chawl project, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) Tuesday provisionally attached properties of three persons, including Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut’s wife Varsha Raut, worth Rs 11.5 crore. The case pertains to a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case filed in Mumbai’s Goregaon by Guru Ashish Construction Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Housing Development and Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL).
The others whose properties were attached are Swapna Patkar, wife of Sujit Patkar, a close aide of Sanjay Raut and businessman Pravin Raut. Moments after the development, Sanjay Raut said the central agency’s move is vindictive and that he is not scared.
In a statement, the ED said, “The attached assets are in form of lands held by Pravin M Raut, former director of Guru Ashish Construction Pvt Ltd, Mumbai at Palghar, a flat at Dadar of Varsha Raut and plots at Kihim beach at Alibaug jointly held by Varsha Raut wife of Shri Sanjay Raut and Swapna Patkar, wife of Shri Sujit Patkar.”
Speaking to the media after ED’s move, Sanjay Raut said, “I’m not one to get scared, seize my property, shoot me, or send me to jail, Sanjay Raut is Balasaheb Thackeray’s follower and a Shiv Sainik. He will fight and expose everyone. I’m not the one to stay quiet, let them dance. The truth will prevail,” he further said.
He added, “I had a feeling that the ED will come after me. The central agency’s move is vindictive and was done because of our efforts to establish the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra and also because I did not succumb to their pressure to destabilise the government.”
He added, “All properties have been erected with self-made money. If even one rupee black money is proved against me, I will donate all my properties to the BJP.”
In February, the ED had arrested Pravin Raut in the case and later, filed a chargesheet as well. Earlier, the ED had also questioned Varsha Raut in connection with another money laundering case linked to the PMC Bank fraud case and for her purported links with Pravin Raut’s wife Madhuri.
Earlier in the day, Sanjay Raut had batted for an all-party meeting on the rising prices of fuel in the country and had echoed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who said India’s economic condition is worse than that of Sri Lanka.
