Mumbai Court extends judicial custody of Sanjay Raut, takes cognizance of ED’s supplementary chargesheet

A special court here on Monday extended by 14 days the judicial custody of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and took cognizance of a supplementary charge sheet naming him as an accused in a money laundering case. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on August 1 arrested Raut (60), a Rajya Sabha member, in connection with alleged financial irregularities in the redevelopment of Patra Chawl (row houses) in Mumbai’s Goregaon area.

The ED had filed a supplementary charge sheet last week, making Raut an accused in the case. Raut moved the Special Court for Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cases for bail.

Special Judge MG Deshpande, taking cognizance of the prosecution complaint, issued summons to all the accused in the case, including Shiv Sena MP’s aide Praveen Raut. The court on Monday also extended the judicial custody of Sanjay Raut for another 14 days.

The Shiv Sena leader’s bail hearing was adjourned till September 21 as his lawyer had said that they wanted to consider the charge sheet and decide on adding additional grounds in his plea. The ED probe pertains to alleged financial irregularities in the redevelopment of Patra ‘chawl’ and financial property transactions relating to his wife and alleged associates.

The ED, while opposing Sanjay Raut’s bail application, told the court last week that he played a major role in the money laundering case related to the Patra Chawl redevelopment and worked “behind the scenes”. The ED had also denied Raut’s contention that the action against him was out of malice or political vendetta.

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