The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday began raids on at least 10 locations linked to Pratap Sarnaik, a Shiv Sena MLA in Maharashtra. Sarnaik is the MLA for Ovala-Maijwada constituency.
PTI reported the raids were being conducted at 10 locations linked to Sarnaik in Thane and Mumbai under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Raids were also conducted at places belonging to his sons, Vihang and Purvesh. Sarnaik owns the Vihang Inn, a three-star hotel in Thane. Vihang was detained by the Enforcement Directorate and was being taken to Vasant Lawns, a locality in Thane.
"The searches are being conducted on the Tops group (a company in the business of providing security) promoters and related people, including some politicians," PTI reported.
Interestingly, the Enforcement Directorate summoned personnel from the CRPF from Pune for the raids, instead of relying on Maharashtra Police.
Who is Pratap Sarnaik?
Sarnaik had been in the news for moving a breach of privilege motion in the Maharashtra Assembly in September against Arnab Goswami, Republic TV editor in chief. Sarnaik had then accused Goswami of using "derogatory" language against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Sarnaik had also accused Goswami of insulting ministers and MPs during his TV debates.
In August, Sarnaik had written to Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh to reopen the investigation into the suicide in 2018 of Anvay Naik, an interior designer who had accused Arnab Goswami of not paying pending dues. Goswami had been arrested in connection with the suicide of Anvay Naik on November 4, but was granted bail by the Supreme Court the following week.
Sarnaik had also sought action against actor Kangana Ranaut who had compared Mumbai to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). In September, Sarnaik had sought a probe into allegations of drug use against Kangana.
He had also lashed out at Kangana Ranaut. Sarnaik was quoted by NDTV as saying "I understood this saying today, 'No matter how much you try, a dog's tail never becomes straight'. The people who took the support of Kangana to malign the Shiv Sena government for the past one week have been left red faced as she has now left the city. Now they can keep shouting."
Sarnaik had also threatened that Kangana's mouth would be "broken" for her comments comparing Mumbai to PoK.
(With inputs from Dnyanesh Jathar)
