Money laundering case: Sanjay Raut sent to judicial custody till August 22

Special public prosecutor Kavita Patil told the court on Monday that the agency is not seeking Raut’s further custody. In its plea, the ED said further investigation of transactions of alleged proceeds of crime between 2009 and 2014 is still in progress. It said that the investigation was against “very influential persons” and there were also allegations of threat to witnesses, so Raut should be kept in judicial custody.

Following court’s order for Ra-ut’s judicial custody, a plea was moved on his behalf that he be permitted to access home food, medicines and bed in Arthur Road jail. Raut was permitted home food and medicines while in ED custody and he sought continuation of the order.

Special Judge M G Deshpande said Raut was allowed home food and medicines considering his health issues based on medical papers submitted by his lawyers which indicate heart-related ailments. The court said he can be permitted to avail home food and medicines as an interim order till a report is received from prison authorities. The court directed the jail superintendent and chief medical officer of the jail to note Raut’s history and medication and sought a report. The court also turned down Raut’s request for a bed, saying that jail authorities have made adequate arrangements for bedding.

Raut, who was in ED’s custody for eight days, was arrested on allegations of having received proceeds of crime from the redevelopment project of Patra Chawl in Kandivali from his co-accused Pravin Raut. The ED initially claimed that Rs 1.06 crore were received by Raut’s family as ‘direct beneficiaries’ and later claimed that a fresh trail of another Rs 2.25 crore was traced. Raut has denied the allegations. On Saturday, the ED also questioned Raut’s wife, Varsha, at its office.