Explained: Sanjay Raut’s Patra Chawl Land Scam – HDIL case

Shiv Sena leader has been called for questioning by the ED on June 28, HDIL case explained.

The Housing Development Infrastructure Limited (HDIL) case, came to light when Punjab and Maharashtra(PMC) Bank fraud case was exposed. Moreover, by the Reserve Bank of India. The bank was accused have transferred a total sum of around 4300 crore rupees in terms of loans over time to the almost bankrupt HDIL company.

According to RBI sources, the PMC Bank had made a total of 44 problematic transactions and one of them was HDIL. This triggered a detailed investigation into HDIL’s financial holdings and the ED had launched simultaneous investigations into HDIL promoters and members of the staff.

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Sanjay Raut’s involvement

In April of 2022, the Enforcement Directorate seized many properties across the state which had including the properties of Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut and his family under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The Enforcement Directorate had attached almost 11.15 crore worth of property linked to Sanjay Raut and his family. According to a statement from the agency, the attached properties include eight plots at Kihim Beach in Alibaug that Varsha Raut and Swapna Patkar jointly own as well as property owned by Pravin M. Raut, a former director of Guru Ashish Construction Pvt Ltd., in the Palghar and Thane districts. The attachment is related to a money-laundering probe into an alleged land “scam” involving the redevelopment of a “chawl” in Mumbai valued at $1,034 crore. Mr. Pravin Raut was arrested in February and was taken into custody.

In regards to the development, Shiv Sena MP had tweeted that the central agencies were biased towards the ruling government. And that he can’t be stopped even if he gets taken to jail or shot because the truth will always prevail. Sanjay Raut had also called the actions of the Enforcement Directorate “middle-class Marathi manoos”. Speaking to media in New Delhi, Raut noted that the ED move occurred on the same day. That the Mumbai Police established an SIT to look into claims of extortion against the personnel of the central agency. Even the Maha Agvadi Government in Maharashtra had claimed that the action against Raut was driven by political vendetta.

There is political vendetta…The action was taken without issuing any notice to him (Raut) and conducting any probe. This shows how the Centre is working,” Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil had claimed to accuse BJP of framing allegations against Raut.

Sanjay Raut’s Patra Chawl Land Scam

According to the ED, the business (Guru Ashish) had a “tripartite agreement” to redevelop the “chawl” with the tenants and MHADA. The developer was required by the agreement to build flats for MHADA. And supply units to 672 residents before selling the remaining space, the ED said. But the company directors thought it would be better to clear out the tenant space. And sell the property to 9 developers without even considering the rehabilitation part of the 672 tenants. They had collected a total amount of 901.79 crore rupees from the sale. The ED had also suspected that around 100 crores were transferred to Pravin Raut’s bank account.

Varsha Raut, the wife of Sanjay Raut, received some of the Rs 83 lakh in proceeds of crime. From Madhuri Pravin Raut, the wife of Pravin Raut, in 2010. The agency said that Varsha Raut used this money to buy a property in Dadar East. And hence the property was targeted by the agency. Varsha Raut was questioned last year when the PMC case was in its initial process.

In the most recent update, Sanjay Raut has been asked to be present. In front of the Enforcement Directorate on June 28. Hence, concerning the land money-laundering case. The timing is considered not to be in favor of the Shiv Sena party.
Further updates regarding the case are still awaited.