Sanjay Raut came out in support of Thackeray family in a tussle to control Shiv Sena
Mumbai:
Soon after Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer Sanjay Raut reached his residence for questioning in the money laundering case, the Shiv Sena leader tweeted that the central agency’s investigation is based on “false evidence”.
ED investigators reached the Rajya Sabha MP’s house this morning after not getting summons twice, on July 20 and July 27. The agency wants to question him in connection with the redevelopment of a chawl in Mumbai. Mr Raut, who is a close aide of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, has denied any wrongdoing and alleged that he is being targeted out of political vendetta.
“I have nothing to do with any scam. I am saying this by taking oath as Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray. Balasaheb taught us to fight. I will continue to fight for Shiv Sena,” he tweeted in Marathi this morning. “False action. False evidence. I will not leave Shiv Sena. Even if I die, I will not surrender. Jai Maharashtra,” he said.
BJP MLA Ram Kadam questioned why the Shiv Sena leader missed the summons. “If he is innocent then why is he afraid of the Enforcement Directorate? He has all the time to hold press conferences but no time to go to the probe agency’s office for questioning,” he said.
The Shiv Sena leader was questioned in this matter on July 1. He was called to appear again on July 20, but he referred to the ongoing Parliament session. He was then asked to appear on July 27, but he did not do so.
Mr Raut has come out in support of Thackeray for controlling the Shiv Sena after the Eknath Shinde revolt, which toppled the Maha Vikas Aghadi government and ousted Uddhav Thackeray as chief minister.
When he was summoned on June 28, in the midst of high-voltage political drama, he had tweeted, “I just learned that ED has summoned me. Good! Big political developments in Maharashtra. We, Balasaheb. K Shiv Sainiks are fighting a big fight. This is a conspiracy to stop me. Even if you kill me, I will not take the Guwahati route. Arrest me! Jai Hind!”