PremiumVarsha Raut was summoned by the central agency on Friday after the ED officials raided the Shiv Sena leader's home on Sunday and after detaining and questioning, arrested him in the early hours on Monday.
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Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut's wife Varsha Raut has arrived at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Mumbai on Saturday as she was summoned by the agency in connection with the Patra Chawl land case.
Varsha Raut was summoned by the central agency on Friday after the ED officials raided the Shiv Sena leader's home on Sunday and after detaining and questioning, arrested him in the early hours on Monday. He was sent to ED custody till August 4, however, it was later extended till 8 August.
Raut is a close aide of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Prior to his arrest, Sanjay Raut's brother had said, "Sanjay Raut has been arrested. BJP is afraid of him and got him arrested. They have not given us any documents (regarding his arrest). He has been framed."
Meanwhile, another FIR was registered against Sanjay Raut in Mumbai for allegedly threatening Swapna Patkar, the wife of Sujit Patkar who is believed to be a close aide of the Shiv Sena MP.
The case was registered at the Vakola police station under sections 504, 506 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code. An audio clip had gone viral in which Raut was allegedly heard threatening Swapna Patkar.
Notably, Swapna Patkar is also a witness in the Patra Chawl land case in connection to which the ED detained Raut after conducting a raid at his residence.
According to sources, ED officials seized ₹11.50 lakhs unaccounted cash from his residence during the raids. Soon after the ED officials detained him in connection with the Patra Chawl land scam case, the Shiv Sena leader said that he "won't be cowed down".
Speaking to media persons, Raut said, "False charges and documents are being framed against people. All of this is being done to weaken Shiv Sena and Maharashtra. Sanjay Raut won't be cowed down. I will not leave the party."
On June 28 this year, Sanjay Raut was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the prevention of the money laundering case pertaining to the ₹1,034 crore Patra Chawl land scam.
Raut is being probed in connection with the re-development of Mumbai's Patra Chawl.
In April this year, the ED had attached immovable properties worth ₹11.15 crore, including a flat at Dadar, held by Sanjay Raut's wife Varsha and eight land parcels at Kihim near Alibag, jointly held by the latter with Swapna Patkar.
(With inputs from ANI)