The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday summoned Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik and his son Vihang Sarnaik for questioning, ANI reported. The move comes exactly a week after the Enforcement Directorate conducted raids on at least 10 establishments associated with Pratap Sarnaik in Thane and Mumbai under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Vihang was detained following the raids.
Pratap Sarnaik, the Shiv Sena MLA from Ovala Majiwada constituency, is a three-time legislator. He rose from humble origins as an autorickshaw driver in Mumbai. Pratap Sarnaik is reported to have assets worth over Rs 143 crore, with interests in sectors ranging from real estate to hospitality.
Following the raids on his establishments last week, Pratap Sarnaik had declared he would not be silenced. "My staff and my son gave information to the ED people. But still they were not satisfied. When they will summon me, it definitely is my responsibility to answer each of their question being a public representative," Pratap Sarnaik had then told a Marathi news channel.
Pratap Sarnaik had even declared he was ready to be "hanged" for the sake of "Mumbai, Maharashtra and the country".
The Congress, which is in alliance with the Shiv Sena, had described the raids on Pratap Sarnaik as being "politically motivated".
The raids against Pratap Sarnaik related to a case of money laundering against Tops Group, a security service provider, and others. Tops and some other companies got contracts from the MMRDA between 2014-2017 and again from 2017 to 2020.
Pratap 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. Pratap Sarnaik had then accused Goswami of using "derogatory" language against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Pratap Sarnaik had also accused Goswami of insulting ministers and MPs during his TV debates.
In August, Pratap 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.
Pratap Sarnaik had also sought action against actor Kangana Ranaut who had compared Mumbai to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). In September, Pratap Sarnaik had sought a probe into allegations of drug use against Kangana.Â
