Sanjay Raut’s judicial custody extended by 14 days in money laundering case

Mangalore Today News Network

Mumbai, Nov 02, 2022: Shiv Sena MP and Uddhav Thackeray’s close aide Sanjay Raut’s judicial custody has been extended by 14 days in a money laundering case. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on August 1 after over six hours of questioning in the Rs 1,034-crore Patra Chawl land scam case.

 

The ED has stated that Raut had helped the accused in committing the fraud and in exchange, Rs 1.06 crore was diverted to his wife Varsha Raut through different methods.

The central agency had arrested Sanjay Raut in connection with alleged financial irregularities in the redevelopment of Patra Chawl (an old row tenement) in suburban Goregaon and related financial property transactions involving his wife and alleged associates. According to documents accessed by India Today, Raut’s friend and prime accused Pravin Raut allegedly generated Rs 112 crore in the scam.

According to the ED, Pravin Raut, Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan and Sarang Wadhawan conspired together and hatched a conspiracy to siphon off money from the project without completing the project and jeopardising the future of 672 tenants whose dwellings had already been demolished. Pravin was Director of Guruashish Construction Private Limited along with Rakesh and Sarang Wadhawan.

Being the frontman of Sanjay Raut, Pravin utilised his proximity with Sanjay Raut to obtain approval from the Maharashtra Housing and Development Authority and other advantages best known to himself.

Earlier, the ED claimed that Sanjay Raut, if released on bail, may influence and tamper with the evidence.
WHAT IS THE CASE?

In 2007, Guruashish Constructions, a sister concern company of HDIL (Housing Development and Infrastructure Ltd), was awarded contract for redevelopment of Patra Chawl by MHADA.

Guruashish constructions had to develop flats for 672 tenants of Patra Chawl and about 3000 flats had to be handed over to MHADA. The total land parcel was of 47 acres and remaining land after handing over flats to MHADA and Patra Chawl tenants was to be allowed for sale and development by Guruashish constructions.

Guruashish constructions did not redevelop the Patra chawl or any other flats that had to be handed over to MHADA and sold land parcels and FSI to around eight other builders for Rs 1,034 crores.

Pravin Raut, now arrested by the ED, was one of the directors of the firm along with Sarang and Rakesh Wadhawan of HDIL.

In March 2018, MHADA filed an FIR against Guruashish constructions. In February 2020 Pravin Raut was arrested by EOW, while Sarang Wadhawan was arrested by EOW in September same year. Pravin Raut was later released on bail.

The ED then lodged a case and arrested Pravin as a prime accused in the case. Later, after over six hours of questioning, Sanjay Raut was arrested by the ED.

Courtesy: India Today