ED's big action on Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today (Tuesday) attached the assets of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut in the Rs 1,034 crore Patra Chawl land scam case. According to the information received, under this action, the investigating agency has attached Sanjay Raut's Alibaug plot and a flat in Dadar.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut wrote a letter to Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, claiming that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is probing the Rs 1,034 crore Patra Chawl land scam case, he and his Relatives, friends and their powers are being misused. Sanjay Raut had alleged that the ED and other central agencies were being used with "malafide intent" to topple democratically elected governments.

In 2007, Guruashish Construction, a subsidiary of HDIL (Housing Development and Infrastructure Limited), was awarded the contract by MHADA (Maharashtra Housing and Development Authority) for the redevelopment of Patra Chawl. Guruashish Construction was to prepare flats for 672 tenants of Patra Chawl and hand over 3,000 flats to MHADA. The total land was 47 acres. After handing over the flats to the tenants of MHADA and Patra chawls, Guruashish Construction was to allow the remaining land for sale and development.

The ED registered an ECIR in the case and on February 1, the agency conducted searches at around seven places, including the residence offices of Pravin Raut and his associate Sujit Patkar. Praveen Raut was arrested on February 2, while the ED recorded Patkar's statement. Praveen Raut is a friend of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut and his name also cropped up during the investigation in the PMC Bank scam case.