Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) shortly after July 31 midnight following a raid on his residence, was produced before a special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on Monday after a medical check-up at Mumbai’s J.J. Hospital.
Before entering the courtroom, Mr. Raut told the media that his arrest was a “conspiracy to finish the Shiv Sena”. His lawyer Ashok Mundargi argued that the MP’s arrest was politically motivated.
The ED had sought an eight-day custody of Mr. Raut, but the special court granted the agency only three days. The allegations against Mr. Raut concern the proposed redevelopment of the Patra chawl in Mumbai’s Goregaon. It has been alleged that the developers, among whom one was a close associate of the MP, fraudulently made ₹1,039.79 crore from this scheme from which Mr. Raut allegedly benefited as well.
