The Enforcement Directorate has issued summons to Varsha Raut, wife of high-profile Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, in connection with a Rs 55-lakh transaction at the Punjab Maharashtra Cooperative Bank between her and an associate.
The move, coming on the back of similar action against BJP-turned-NCP leader Eknath Khadse, has sent shock waves in the ruling MVA coalition comprising Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress.
The ED has asked Varsha to appear before it on December 29 with relevant papers pertaining to her accounts in the PMC Bank, which is under a moratorium. The agency has invoked provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act to summon Varsha Raut. The ED is investigating a Rs 4,355 crore scam involving PMC Bank and the Wadhawans of Housing Development and Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL) who defaulted on loans.
ED is believed to be probing a Rs 55 lakh transaction between Raut and Madhuri, wife of Praveen Raut, an associate of Sanjay Raut. Praveen was arrested in a case connected to property development, but was later granted bail. The Rs 55 lakh transaction was cited as a loan/advance in the affidavit filed by Sanjay Raut for his nomination to the Rajya Sabha in 2016.
“Mrs Raut has not received the notice. Even if we receive it, we do not care at all,” Sanjay Raut said in a text message to TOI when asked for his reaction.
After Eknath Khadse, Raut is the third such individual with political connections in the recent past to get an ED summons. Khadse was asked to be present before the ED on Wednesday. Shiv Sena legislator Pratap Sarnaik and his two sons too are under the ED’s scrutiny.
NCP spokesman and skill development minister Nawab Malik described the summons to Varsha Raut as “politically motivated” and driven by vendetta. “First it was Eknath Khadse and now Varsha Raut. Opposition leaders, who have taken a clear stand against PM Narendra Modi are being targeted by central agencies. This is gross abuse of power by the BJP,’’ Malik said.( TOI )
