A PMLA court in Mumbai on Wednesday granted bail to Shiv Sena leader and MP Sanjay Raut in connection with the Patra Chawl land scam case.
Along with Sanjay Raut, the second accused in this case, Praveen Raut was also granted bail by the PMLA court. Sanjay Raut got bail today after about 102 days.
Raut was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on August 1 in connection with alleged financial irregularities in the redevelopment of the Patra Chawl in suburban Goregaon, Mumbai.
When the court pronounced the order, family members and supporters of the Shiv Sena MP clapped inside the courtroom and corridor of the court.
Meanwhile, the Additional Solicitor General has sought a stay on the execution of the bail order for a short period so that ED can appeal in a higher court against the order of Mumbai’s PMLA court.
Mumbai’s PMLA court will pronounce the order on demand of a stay on the execution of Sanjay Raut’s bail order at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
The Shiv Sena leader is accused of receiving a part of the money from middleman Praveen Raut, who had allegedly earned it illegally in the case of the redevelopment of Patra Chawl, located in Mumbai’s Goregaon. It is also alleged that Sanjay Raut bought properties in Dadar and Alibaug with that money.
Sanjay Raut has been continuously lodged in Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai since August 1. Former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and former minister Nawab Malik are also lodged in this jail.
This news is being considered a relief for the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance before the municipal elections.
Sanjay Raut is an aggressive Shiv Sena spokesperson and has a good hold on his party cadre.
On June 28 of this year, Sanjay Raut was summoned by the ED in connection with the prevention of the money laundering case pertaining to the Rs 1,034 crore Patra Chawl land scam.
Back in August, the wife of Shiv Sena MP was also summoned by the agency in connection with the Patra Chawl land case.
The MP’s wife, Varsha Raut, was summoned by the central agency after the ED officials raided the Shiv Sena leader’s home and after detaining and questioning him (Sanjay Raut) for several hours, arrested him.
Raut is a close aide of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
During the raids, ED officials seized Rs 11.50 lakh in unaccounted cash from his residence, according to sources.
Soon after the ED officials detained him in connection with the Patra Chawl land scam case, the Shiv Sena leader said that he “won’t be cowed down.” Raut is being probed in connection with the redevelopment of Mumbai’s Patra Chawl.
