No Malice Or Vendetta In Sanjay Raut's Arrest: ED Opposes Bail In Patra Chawl Case

There is no malice or vendetta in Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut's arrest, the Enforcement Directorate told a special court in its reply to the politician's bail application in the Patra Chawl money laundering scam.It is the ED's case that Guru Ashish Construction, a subsidiary of HDIL, in a tri-parte agreement with Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), had undertaken to develop 672 flats for tenants of Patra Chawl, develop over 1 lakh sq meter area for MHADA, and finally to sell the remaining area to private developers. However, according to the ED, Pravin Raut, one of the directors of Guru Ashish Constructions misled MHADA and sold the floor space index (FSI) to nine private developers, collecting Rs 1034 crore. It failed to construct either the rehab portion for the 672 displaced tenants or the MHADA's portion. This Rs 1034 crore is the proceeds of crime, the agency said. "Accused played major role in the offence through his proxy and confidant Mr Pravin Raut." The ED has said that Raut was "misleading" the court that MHADA had permitted selling of the free sale component for raising funds. "There was no express permission sell the free sale component. MHADA categorically stated that the developer can only take a loan on the land ear marked for free sale. FSI was sold without any permission. Thus sale proceeds of FSI are nothing but the proceeds of crime," the ED said. Raut's application is "absolutely baseless, devoid of any merits and merely an attempt to deviate from the process of law. Present accused is fully involved in the offence of money laundering," the agency said. Regarding Rs 55 lakh that were returned by Raut's wife to Pravin Raut's wife, the ED said these were proceeds of crime as the money was paid only in December 2020 after the commencement of ED investigation. The agency further contended that bail to Pravin Raut in another CR holds no parallel in this case. No parity can be observed. "The present applicant is very influential and powerful person. If released on bail, he may influence and tamper the evidence. There are instances of his threatening witnesses," it added.

No Malice Or Vendetta In Sanjay Raut's Arrest: ED Opposes Bail In Patra Chawl Case

Sharmeen Hakim

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