In the developing Patra Chawl Land Scam case, the PMLA court in Mumbai remanded Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut in judicial custody until September 5 in a money laundering case. The scam involved alleged irregularities in the redevelopment of a ‘Mumbai Chawl.’
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Raut on August 1 in connection with alleged money laundering and argued for his release at this point. As this would jeopardise the investigation because he is a powerful figure who could tamper with evidence.
Raut had been in ED custody for eight days when he was transferred to judicial custody on August 8 after ED submitted that further interrogation was unnecessary.
The investigation into the case involved proceeds of crime totalling approximately 1,039.79 crores as ‘direct beneficiaries,’ and the ED later claimed that another Rs 2.25 crore trail was traced.
During a custodial interrogation, the ED stated that Raut did not explain his involvement, which was entirely his knowledge, and gave evasive answers.
Redevelopment of the Patra ‘chawl’
The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) is the owner of the 47 acres of land at the Patra Chawl, according to the ED, and 672 tenants were residing in the tenement on the property. However, no actual redevelopment has yet taken place despite the Guru Ashish Constructions’ receipt of approval for the plot’s redevelopment with an additional Floor Space Index (FSI). As a result, the tenants were left high and dry, according to the investigation agency.
Pravin Raut, who has already been arrested in the case, is one of the firm’s directors. The ED claimed he was Sanjay Raut’s frontman. The investigation agency questioned Sanjay Raut’s wife Varsha Raut for more than nine hours on Saturday in connection with the case and recorded her statement.
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