Sanjay Raut is one of the most aggressive backers of Uddhav Thackeray against a mutiny in the Shiv Sena party; says BJP is misusing central agency
Mumbai: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has been given until July 1 to appear before the Enforcement Directorate for questioning in a money laundering case. Raut is one of the most zealous supporters of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray against a mutiny in the party. He was originally instructed to appear at the Mumbai headquarters of the agency today at 11am, but his attorneys requested two weeks to prepare the necessary paperwork.
According to Mr. Raut, the BJP is abusing the authority of the central government agency to pursue political foes. Mr. Raut immediately said yesterday that he wouldn’t show up and daring the ED to arrest him, calling the situation “a conspiracy to stop me.”
The lawsuit involves an alleged fraud in the reconstruction of the Patra Chawl housing complex. His family’s properties were also attached by the ED in the investigation back in April.
Meanwhile, it appeared that the political crisis was nearing its conclusion as renegade Sena leader Eknath Shinde said today that he would travel to Mumbai. He was speaking to reporters in front of the hotel where he and other rebels have been sleeping for a week in Guwahati, Assam, which is under BJP authority. Nearly 40 of the 55 MLAs who belong to the Shiv Sena, according to Mr. Shinde, support him.
Sources said Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari might ask the government to prove majority in the assembly sometime this week.
The rebels want the Sena to exit the alliance with the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and go back to its “natural” alliance with the BJP, citing a shared Hindutva ideology. Team Thackeray says BJP ignited the revolt to grab power in Maharashtra.
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