Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Monday went on the offensive after the Enforcement Directorate issued summons to his wife over the PMC Bank money laundering case.
Sanjay Raut's wife, Varsha, has been summoned to appear by the Enforcement Directorate on December 29.
Speaking to mediapersons, Raut alleged the Enforcement Directorate action was linked to politics. Raut said, "In last one year, Sharad Pawar, Eknath Khadse and Pratap Sarnaik got notices and now you all are discussing my name. All these people are crucial for government formation in Maharashtra. These are pieces of paper, nothing else," Raut was quoted by ANI as saying.
Raut added, "Targeting women of a household is an act of cowardice. We are not scared of anyone and will respond accordingly. ED needed some papers and we have submitted them in time."
Raut said his wife, a teacher, got an Enforcement Directorate notice for a loan taken 10 years ago.
Raut alleged he had "observed" three BJP leaders had been regularly going to the ED office.
Raut even claimed the BJP planned to send notices to 22 MLAs of the ruling MVA government in Maharashtra to topple it.
Raut claimed he would submit a list of 120 BJP leaders who had illegally amassed wealth and demanded the ED probe them.
Yuva Sena president and Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray on Monday termed as ''politically motivated'' the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate to the wife of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut.
''The ED move is politically motivated. We are not scared. The MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) government is stable,'' Aaditya, son of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, told reporters when asked about the ED summons.
Meanwhile, an image of a banner outside the Enforcement Directorate office in Mumbai, which was purportedly erected by Shiv Sena activists, went viral on Monday. The banner states 'BJP regional office', echoing a common allegation by political parties that the ED was being used to target the opposition.
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The ED officials had said that Varsha Raut has been asked to appear before the federal agency in Mumbai. This is the third summons issued to her after she skipped the earlier two on health grounds.
The summons for questioning had been issued to her under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED wants to question Varsha Raut with regard to ''receipt'' of some funds that were allegedly siphoned from the bank, PTI had reported.
BJP leader questions Raut
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya raised questions about the involvement of Raut’s wife in the PMC Bank case soon after the latter’s press conference. “I heard Press Conference of Shivsena #SanjayRaut. Why He is Avoiding to Response. How, Why His Family Received ₹54 lacs from HDIL the PMC bank Fraud Money? What is his relationship with HDIL? Praveen Raut? Will he return the Fraud Money, which belongs to PMC Depositors? Mrs Varsha Sanjay Raut has been summoned to appear before ED on 24 November 2020 & 11 December 2020 and 29 December 2020. Mrs Madhuri/Pravin Raut received ₹55 lacs from HDIL. It was than transferred to Mrs Varsha Sanjay Raut,” Somaiya wrote on Twitter.
(With inputs from Dnyanesh Jathar)
