ED Raids Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik, Son Vihang Taken For Questioning; 'Ever Heard Of Such Action On BJP People?' Fumes MVA

The move comes as a jolt to the ruling MVA government in the state as around 10 locations related to the senior MLA was raided by a team of ED and a heavy posse of CRPF personnel.

Mumbai: Enforcement Directorate officials on Tuesday raided the residence and office premises of Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik in Thane in connection with a money laundering case and also detained his son Vihang Sarnaik (in blue shirt) from their residence. The move comes as a jolt to the ruling MVA government in the state as around 10 locations related to the senior MLA was raided by a team of ED and a heavy posse of CRPF personnel.  The raids were carried out simultaneously at the locations in Mumbai and Thane under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), official sources said.

Who is Pratap Sarnaik? Pratap Sarnaik is a senior Shiv Sena leader and currently the member of Maharashtra Assembly  from Ovala-Majiwada. The 56-year-old leader has been elected thrice from the constituency in Thane and is the chairman of the Vihang Group of Companies with interests in varied sectors. Sarnaik, recently, has been vocal against of Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut and Republic TV Chief Editor Arnab Goswami in the past few weeks. He had demanded that Kangana Ranaut be booked for sedition for comparing Mumbai to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.  His remarks came after Shiv Sena leader Raut of threatening her. Pratap Sarnaik had recently proposed breach of privilege motion against Arnab Goswami and had also asked for reinvestigation of Anvay Naik suicide case.

MVA slams Centre, Says ED & CBI Being Misused The MVA government slammed the Centre over the raids conducted at the premises of Sarnaik and the subsequent detention of his son and alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party is using central agencies to pressurize the MVA government and demoralize its leaders. Reacting to the development, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said "we all know that the ED and CBI are being misused. They are puppets in the hands of the Centre. But, we will not bow down before anybody.” He  also reiterated that the MVA government is stable.

Congress state President Balasaheb Thorat also launched an attack at the BJP saying "all central agencies are being misused for political gains to build pressures. The BJP has been constantly targeting political opponents like this... Have you ever heard about any raids on people linked with BJP.” NCP Chhagan Bhujbal also said that the BJP uses central agencies to harass those who are critical of them.