ED attaches Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut's linked assets
New Delhi: The ED has attached eight land parcels in Alibaug and a flat in Mumbai's Dadar suburb linked to Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and his family under the anti-money laundering law, officials said on Tuesday.
The federal probe agency issued a provisional attachment under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to freeze the land parcels (plots) and flat, they said.
The attachment is linked to a money-laundering probe linked to a Rs 1,034 crore worth land 'scam' related to the re-development of a 'chawl' in Mumbai.
The ED had arrested Maharashtra-based businessman Pravin Raut in this case in February and later filed a chargesheet too.
The agency had also questioned Sanjay Raut's wife Varsha Raut last year 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.
Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena MP termed the ED action an attack on middle class Marathi 'manoos' and asserted he will not be cowed by such moves and resist any act to pressurise him.
Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Raut pointed out that the ED action came on a day when the Mumbai Police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations of extortion against the central agency's officers.
Last month, the Rajya Sabha MP had alleged that some ED officers were running an extortion racket.
Raut said the ED's action is an act of vengeance and the agency's claim against him will fall flat.
The Shiv Sena leader also tweeted Asatyamev Jayate (lie has triumphed) after the action by the financial crimes probe agency.
The Rajya Sabha MP claimed he was being targeted by the BJP, a former ally of the Shiv Sena, as he did not support efforts to bring down the MVA government in Maharashtra.
The Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government also comprises the Congress and the NCP.
"Your (the BJP) government could not be formed because of me. Now I am not supporting you in bringing down the government. This is an attempt to pressurise me, but I will now be cowed," he added.
This (ED action to attach property) is an act of vengeance against middle class Marathi manoos (Marathi people). The entire Maharashtra should know about this, the Sena MP said.
"I am not scared of anyone. I will not bend. This is my hard-earned money, he added.
Raut said he received phone calls from several political leaders, including Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP president Sharad Pawar, who expressed concern over the ED's action.
