Patra chawl case: ED quizzes Sanjay Raut’s wife Varsha for 10 hours | Mumbai News

MUMBAI: : The ED questioned Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut’s wife Varsha Raut for around 10 hours on Saturday in a money laundering case connected to the Patra Chawl redevelopment case.
The ED asked Varsha about the information collected during Raut’s interrogation and statements. The ED had arrested Raut in the case last Monday. Raut allegedly received Rs 3.3 crore crime proceeds from Pravin Raut, a key accused, most of it in Varsha’s account.

Housing Development and Infrastructure Ltd had allegedly committed the fraud through its subsidiary GuruAshish Construction. Pravin Raut, the alleged frontman of Raut, was one of the directors in GuruAshish. The ED said the Patra land was owned by state agency Mhada and Pravin Raut coordinated with it to get permissions which helped GuruAshish commit a Rs 1,200 crore fraud.
The ED had issued summons to Varsha earlier this week. Accordingly, she reached the agency office at Ballard Estate to record her statement.
On Thursday, the court extended Raut’s ED custody till Monday.
Raut reportedly gave evasive answers for the reason as to why the huge amounts were paid to his wife. The ED examining those who had deposited the money and in process to record their statement in the case.
The ED also called those associated with the Alibaug land deal documents to record their statement on Friday and Saturday. The ED said documents collected during the investigation showed that Raut had purchase beachside properties in Alibaug after paying substantial amount in cash transactions to the land owners.
The central agency had alleged that Raut had threatened sellers to sell their land at Kihim Beach in Alibaug. It said that Raut utilised proceeds of crime worth Rs 1.17 crore in respect of the Alibaug properties.
Over a decade ago, housing firm, HDIL’s group company, GuruAshish construction entered into agreement with Patra chawl tenants and the landowner, a state government agency Mhada, for redeveloping the premises. Sanjay Raut’s close friend Pravin Raut played a crucial role in the deal. GuruAshish Pravin Raut was one of the directors of GuruAshish Construction.
Earlier, the ED had arrested Pravin Raut.