NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: A Particular PMLA court docket in Mumbai on Monday despatched the Shiv Sena chief Sanjay Raut to four-day custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an alleged land rip-off case after the company disclosed monetary transactions between his spouse and that of an actual property builder that was given contract to redevelop Patra Chawl challenge in Goregaon.
The New Indian has accessed the copy of ED’s plea — that makes damning accusations of quid professional quo between 2010 to 2022 in opposition to the Shiv Sena chief — earlier than the court docket whereas searching for his custodial interrogation.
ED plea says that one Pravin Raut — who was one of many administrators of Guru Ashish Constructions Pvt — in the course of the interval (2007-2013) and was actively concerned in execution of Tripartite settlement with Maharashtra Housing and Space Growth Authority (MHADA) for redevelopment of 47-acre Patra chawl in Goregaon – was the entrance man for Sanjay Raut.
“Investigation had revealed that Pravin Raut is a detailed confidante and affiliate of Sanjay Raut, he uitilised his proximity with Raut for acquiring the approval for MHADA and different benefit greatest to themselves. These are evident from statements of different witness, ” ED mentioned.
It additional disclosed that in the course of the redevelopment challenge Sanjay Raut bought 10 land parcels below eight agreements located at Kihim Seashore in Alibaug.
The plea alleges that proceeds of crime to the tune of ₹1 crore was invested in belongings between 2009-2011.
“Being a really influential particular person and given his proximity to Sanjay Raut, Pravin Raut obtained proceed of crime of round Rs 112 crore and there may be each chance that Sanjay Raut has obtained extra proceed of crime throughout that interval,” it mentioned.
ED additionally alleged that Sanjay Raut has threatened the sellers to promote their land located at Kihim seashore, Alibaug. Additional, he has additionally threatened the witnesses who’ve deposed earlier than ED,
ED informed court docket that Raut maintained that solely “via the wives of his and that of Pravin, the 2 males got here shut”.
“When requested about receipt of quantities in his checking account and checking account of his spouse, he (Sanjay Raut) failed to offer any legitimate rationalization. He additionally didn’t furnish any doc referring to the transactions,” the ED mentioned.
“Sanjay Raut initiatives the quantity of PoC of round ₹1 crores as untainted property invested in buying belongings,” the ED has mentioned.
It additionally mentioned that these agreements have been made within the title of 1 Swapna Patker and Varsha Raut (Sanjay Raut’s spouse).
ED additionally disclosed that one Swapna Patkar – spouse of Sanjay Raut’s enterprise affiliate Sujit Patkar — in her assertion has acknowledged that for buying these plots, money quantities have been paid to sellers whose land was acquired to redevelop the 47-acre challenge.
“A number of the sellers have confirmed receipt of those money parts above the cheque quantity obtained in these transactions. The supply of money cost made is from Pravin Raut,” ED mentioned.
Varsha Raut was a trainer and Madhuri Raut spouse of Pravin Raut was a housewife in the course of the interval when a agency ‘Avani Infrastructure’ was setup.
“Firm (like Avani ) was arrange by Sanjay Raut and Pravin Raut to route the proceeds of crime generated from Patra Chawl challenge to challenge it as untainted,” ED informed court docket.
“Investigation up to now has revealed that other than above mentioned proceed of crime of greater than Rs 1 crore, the money part paid for buying plots in Alibagh was additionally sourced from Pravin Raut. Pravin additionally bore the abroad and home vacation excursions bills of the household of Sanjay Raut in the course of the mentioned interval,” the ED mentioned.
“That Varsha Raut had additionally obtained Rs 13,95,611 for funding of Rs 56,251- solely in agency ‘Avani Infrastructure. Thus the revenue earned by Varsha Raut is nothing however adjustment entry/ cost obtained from Pravin Raut as supply of funds of Madhuri Raut is Pravin Raut” the ED mentioned.
The ED additionally mentioned that on July 31 this yr throughout search at two premises positioned at Dadar and Bhandup East of Sanjay Raut was performed which resulted in seizure of paperwork from each the premises. “Additional unaccounted money amounting to Rs 11.50 lakhs have been seized from his residence at Bhandup,” the ED mentioned.
“That Sanjay Raut and Pravin Raut have performed a key function within the execution of mentioned unlawful transactions and have actively participated in siphoning of proceeds of crime resulted from the legal exercise associated to scheduled offence. Sanjay Raut is an precise beneficiary of the mentioned proceeds of crime,” the ED mentioned.
“In view of the investigation up to now, and the information discovered therein, I’ve come to the conclusion that the custody of the accused is critical. However I don’t agree to offer eight days’ custody. Therefore the accused is given 4 days of ED custody,” the court docket informed the ED which was searching for an eight-day custody.
ED additionally informed the court docket that it registered a case of cash laundering on September 8 final yr in opposition to Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan, Sarang Wadhawan, each Administrators of Guru Ashish Building Pvt Ltd. and HDIL and others primarily based on the FIR registered by the EOW, Mumbai in March 2018 in pursuance of the criticism by Nitin Gadkari, Government Engineer, MHADA, Mumbai.
ED argued that in the course of the course of investigation it’s revealed that Rakesh Wadhawan, Sarang Wadhwan and others vacated tenants of “Patra chawl” for redevelopment and building of homes for them.
It alleged that as a substitute of offering homes to those needy and displaced residents of Patra Chawl, they cheated the tenants and MHADA by illegally promoting the FSI to 3rd celebration builders.
ED additionally mentioned that on February 1, 2022 throughout search at residential premise of Pravin Raut resulted in seizure of paperwork.
“In pursuance thereto Pravin Raut was questioned and his assertion was recorded,” ED mentioned in its submission earlier than the court docket.
“PMLA investigation revealed that he has obtained ₹112 crores from HDIL,” ED additional mentioned.
It additional mentioned that on being requested about receipt of ₹112 crore throughout 2010 from HDIL, Pravinn acknowledged that amongst this quantity, ₹50 crore was obtained in opposition to sale of sweat fairness and the remaining from land deal at Palghar.
“Nonetheless, he failed to clarify the rationale for receiving such big funds with none funding even on the nascent stage of the challenge. Moreover even the CFO of HDIL group of corporations Darshan Majmudar has denied issuance of sweat fairness to Pravin Raut,” the ED alleged.
ED mentioned, “From the PMLA investigation performed, it has been ascertained that Shiv Sena chief Sanjay Raut, Pravin Raut, Rakesh Kumar Wadhawan and Sarang Wadhawan conspired collectively and hatched a conspiracy to siphon off monies from this challenge with out finishing the challenge and jeopardizing the way forward for 672 tenants whose dwellings had already been demolished.”
ED additionally mentioned that additional as per the Deed of Affirmation and Modification Settlement on November 3, 2011 entered into between Developer, MHADA and Society the estimated price of building of the entire challenge was ₹1,017 crores and the rehabilitation portion was to be accomplished first.
After receiving the cash surreptitiously, moderately than investing the cash thus obtained within the Patra Chawl challenge, Guru Ashish Constructions Pvt Ltd siphoned off the cash and the challenge stays incomplete until date, the ED mentioned.
Thus the tenants, MHADA and the builders (who bought the FSI) have been all cheated by Guru Ashish Building Pvt Ltd and Guru Ashish Building Pvt Ltd divested and siphoned off funds thus obtained, the ED alleged.
ED additional mentioned that Pravin didn’t make investments any cash within the challenge.
“Cash path revealed that in the course of the interval 2010-2011 Pravin obtained round ₹112 crores in his checking account from HDIL. These quantities have been additional transferred to varied accounts other than utilizations of the a few of these quantities in diverting for buying belongings.
“Among the many proceed of crime of round ₹112 crores, ED has up to now traced proceed of crime amounting to ₹1.06 crore being transferred to the checking account of Sanjay Raut, his spouse Varsha Raut,” the ED alleged.
ED argued that Pravin Raut being the frontman of Sanjay Raut, he utilised his proximity with the Shiv Sena chief for acquiring the approval from MHADA and different benefits greatest recognized to themselves.
ED mentioned, “Sanjay Raut was examined and his assertion was recorded on July 1, 2022 whereby be denied data of involvement of Pravin Raut in Patra Chawl challenge. He went on to state that he got here involved with him throughout 2012-13.”