Lagatar24 Desk
Mumbai, Aug 1: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has been sent to ED custody till August 4 on Monday in connection with Patra Chawl case by a special PMLA court in Mumbai.
A close aide of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, the Shiv Sena leader was detained by the ED until August 4, one day after his arrest in connection with the Patra Chawl redevelopment case.
In ED detention, the Sena leader was given access to homemade food and medication. The court ruled that due to his sickness, the required care and time for questioning should be provided as well.
“In view of the investigation so far and the facts found therein, I have come to the conclusion that the custody of the accused is necessary. But I do not agree to give 8 days’ custody. Hence the accused is given 4 days of ED custody,” said the court.
In order to get Raut’s eight-day remand, the ED brought him before Judge MG Deshpande of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court.
Hiten Venegaonkar, a special public prosecutor, spoke for the ED in court and claimed that Raut and his family were the direct recipients of criminal gains.
Despite receiving four summonses, Raut only once showed up before the agency. According to the agency’s attorney, he attempted to tamper with the witnesses and the evidence throughout this time.
Senior attorney Ashok Mundargi argued on behalf of Raut that the Sena leader shouldn’t be interrogated until late at night since he suffers from a cardiac condition. The investigation agency replied that they often do investigations till 10 p.m.
In connection with alleged financial irregularities in the rehabilitation of a “chawl” in Mumbai and related financial property transactions involving his wife and accused friends, the ED detained Sanjay Raut on Sunday night.
