New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday produced Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut before a special sessions court in Mumbai where his custody was extended till August 8.
According to news agency PTI, the court, while extending the custody, noted that the ED has made "remarkable progress" in the investigation. The central agency produced Raut before special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court judge MG Deshpande as it sought an extension of his custody for further probe into the matter.
Initially, he was sent to ED custody till August 4 in connection with the money laundering case linked to irregularities involving the redevelopment of Patra 'chawl' in Mumbai.
"We have faith in the judiciary. Today, Court has ordered to send him (Sanjay Raut) to ED custody till August 8. Sanjay Raut is a true Shiv Sainik of Balasaheb Thackeray, he will never do any corruption. BJP is scared of him," Sanjay Raut's brother Sunil Raut said, as quoted by news agency ANI.
Seeking the Shiv Sena MP's custody on Monday, the ED told a special PMLA court in Mumbai that Raut and his family received "proceeds of crime" worth over Rs one crore generated out of alleged irregularities in the housing redevelopment project, PTI reported.
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According to ANI, the central agency on Tuesday summoned some more people in connection with the money laundering case while it conducted raids at two different locations in Mumbai.
Before Sanjay Raut's arrest, the officials raided his home on Sunday, they detained and questioned him for several hours.
The Shiv Sena has slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the arrest, alleging that such targeting of the Opposition did not happen even during the Emergency imposed by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi.
Questioning the "haste" in arresting Raut, the Sena said that he had submitted a letter to the ED stating he will appear before the anti-money laundering agency post the monsoon session of Parliament and the Vice Presidential elections, but the ED didn't consider it and raided his residence on Sunday morning.
Shiv Sena chief and former CM Uddhav Thackeray described Raut as a hardcore Shiv Sainik of Bal Thackeray who did not succumb to pressure.
(With Agency Inputs)
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