Sanjay Raut, a firebrand member of the Shiv Sena and a four-time Rajya Sabha member, will appear before a special court later today after being detained by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday. The firebrand MP was ultimately taken into custody early on Monday in connection with the alleged Rs 1,034-crore Patra Chawl land scam case after an 18-hour suspense that began with an ED search on Raut’s residence at dawn on Sunday, followed by his detention and questioning.
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray warned on Sunday that Sanjay Raut, the party’s leader, might be arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and that the agency’s ongoing investigation of him is part of a “plot” to destroy the party.
At his home, “Matoshree,” Thackeray gave a speech to party officials and members from the Thane district on the day that the ED was searching Raut’s home as part of an investigation into possible money laundering.
There are ED visitors in Sanjay Raut’s home. He might be detained. What kind of plot is this? There is a plot to destroy the Shiv Sena because it gives Hindus and Marathi people strength, he claimed.
According to Thackeray, those whose political ascent the Shiv Sena assisted are now changing allegiance.
“At least Arjun Khotkar, the ex-minister who joined the rebels, acknowledged that he was rebelling under duress. When he spent two years in prison, (late Sena leader) Anand Dighe demonstrated to Shiv Sainiks what loyalty means, the speaker remarked.
Thackeray claimed that Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s words against Mumbai were an insult to Marathi and Maharashtra. He said, “He needs to see Kolhapuri chappals.”
When Gujaratis and Rajasthanis go, Mumbai’s money flow will stop, and it will no longer be the financial centre of India, Koshyari had said on Friday night.
What response did individuals who were made slaves have?It was really gentle…He made a covert reference to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who spearheaded the uprising against the party, when he remarked, “simply said we don’t agree.”
“The opposition should not be viewed as foes, according to India’s Chief Justice. Without specifically mentioning the Bharatiya Janata Party, Thackeray remarked, “But when we were allies, we were viewed as adversaries (BJP).
He asserted that the party needs members who are willing to stand up to injustice and lack of fear. Under the direction of party MP Rajan Vichare, Shiv Sena members from Thane phoned Thackeray to express their support for him.
