The Enforcement Directorate has called Sandeep Raut, the younger brother of Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, for questioning in connection with a money laundering case related to the alleged 'khichdi scam' during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to official sources on Wednesday.
Sandeep Raut is expected to appear before the central agency at its Mumbai office next week, and his statement will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Last week, Suraj Chavan, a functionary of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction, was arrested by the ED in connection with the same case.
Chavan, a core committee member of the Yuva Sena, the youth wing of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), is currently in ED custody until Thursday and is anticipated to be presented before a court in Mumbai.
The money laundering case originated from an FIR filed by the Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW). Alleged irregularities are said to have occurred during the awarding of contracts by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for providing 'khichdi' to migrants amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ED has disclosed that Rs 8.64 crore was transferred by the BMC to the bank account of Force One Multi Services, the entity awarded the work order for 'khichdi.' The agency alleges that Force One Multi Services generated "proceeds of crime" amounting to approximately Rs 3.64 crore, of which Rs 1.25 crore were diverted to the personal bank account of Chavan and Rs 10 lakh to the bank account of his partnership firm, Fire Fighters Enterprises.
The ED, while seeking Chavan's remand, stated that he wrongfully acquired "proceeds of crime" totaling Rs 1.35 crore through these transactions. The investigation is ongoing, and Sandeep Raut's involvement is now being scrutinized by the enforcement authorities.
(With Agency Inputs)
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