Mumbai: Granting bail to Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut in a money laundering case relating to Patra Chawl, the special PMLA court made scathing observations against the Enforcement Directorate (ED), LiveLaw reported.
Special Judge MG Deshpande, granting bail to Sanjay Raut and his aid Pravin Raut, observed: “I hold that both accused are basically arrested illegally.”
Scathing observations against the Enforcement Directorate in the order granting bail to #SanjayRaut and Pravin Raut in the Patra Chawl case.
"I hold that both accused are basically arrested illegally."@dir_ed #bail #PMLA pic.twitter.com/8TjmNtvgQR
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) November 9, 2022
“Simply labeling pure civil disputes with ‘money laundering’ or ‘Economic Offence’ cannot automatically acquire such status & ultimately drag an innocent person in a miserable situation in the guise of arrest. Court has to do what is right, irrespective who is before it,” the court observed, LiveLaw reported.
“From the records materials and the detailed discussion made it is clear how Pravin Raut is arrested for a pure civil litigation, whereas Sanjay Raut for NO REASON. This truth is glaring.”
The court also slammed Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), asking why ED has not booked any MHADA official.
“In this way the conduct of MHADA right from beginning till date is suspicious and even ED admitted the same in their complaints, yet ED has not made any MHADA staff accused,” the court observed.
“MHADA’s attitude as such lodging FIR No.22 of 2018 on one fine morning can neither throw dust in the eyes of the Court nor can brush of and wash out long civil litigations which were even acknowledged by the Hon’High Court. Hence, this Court cannot join its voice in the chorus of ED and MHADA,” the court further added.
“Rakesh and Sarang Wadhwan (A1 & A2) being the main accused were not arrested by ED, they have been left scott free. At the same time #SanjayRaut and Pravin Raut were arrested. This clearly indicates disparity, and ED’s pick and choose attitude,” the court said in its order.
“If the Court still accepts contention of ED and MHADA and further rejects the bail applications of Pravin Raut (A3) and Sanjay Raut(A5) that will amount putting premium on such pick and choose strategies of the Agency. Certainly in that event any common man, innocent and honest people, will loose faith and confidence which they have reposed in the judicial system as a temple of justice. Hence, judicial principles which guide the Court cannot be ignored,” the court further added, granting bail to Sanjay Raut and Pravin Raut.
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