Guwahati: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut was called by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday for interrogation in a money laundering investigation connected to the redevelopment of a Mumbai “chawl” amid political unrest in Maharashtra.
Reports claim that Raut was requested to testify before the federal agency at its South Mumbai office on June 28 and record his statement pursuant to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) administration of Maharashtra is in doubt following the development as the party fights a group of breakaway MLAs.
As part of this inquiry, the ED temporarily attached assets belonging to Raut’s wife Varsha Raut and two of his acquaintances in April totaling more than Rs 11.15 crore.
After Eknath Shinde travelled to Surat and Guwahati with some Shiv Sena members, claiming to have the support of 38 of the 55 Shiv Sena legislators—more than two-thirds of the party’s strength in the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly—political unrest in Maharashtra was precipitated. It indicates that they won’t be barred from the state assembly if they decide to resign and start a new political party or join forces with another.