Enforcement
Directorate (ED) officials questioned Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut at his residence
in Mumbai Sunday. Raut, the executive editor of Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’
is being investigated for his alleged involvement in the Patra Chawl land scam
case. Following the ED’s visit to his home, Raut wrote on Twitter: “I have
nothing to do with any scam.”

What is the Patra
Chawl land scam case?

HDIL (Housing
Development and Infrastructure Ltd), a real estate company, had taken a loan of
Rs 6,700 crore from PMC Cooperative Bank. The loan eventually led to the
collapse of the bank. Guruashish Constructions, a sister company of HDIL, was
awarded a contract for the redevelopment of Patra Chawl by Maharashtra Housing
and Development Authority (MHADA).

Guruashish
Constructions was asked to build flats for 672 tenants. Moreover, 3,000 more
flats were supposed to be handed over to MHADA. The redevelopment project was
to take place over 47 acres of land. The remaining land could be sold by
Guruashish Constructions.

Also Read | Sanjay Raut says money laundering case against him based on ‘false evidence’

None of these expected
flats actually came up. Guruashish Constructions did not develop any of the
promised flats and the firm is said to have sold the land to several builders
at a price of Rs 1,034 crore.

One of the directors
of the firm, Pravin Rawat, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate. Along
with him, Sarang and Rakesh Wadhawan were also arrested. The Wadhawans are the
prime accused in the PMC bank scam case. Pravin Rawat was later released on
bail.

Also Read | Who is Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena MP under ED scanner?

How is Sanjay Raut
involved?

Sanjay Raut is said to
be a friend of Pravin Rawat. Further, the Enforcement Directorate found that
Pravin Raut’s wife Madhuri had given an interest-free loan to Sanjay Raut’s
wife Varsha. The Raut family used the money to buy a flat in Mumbai’s Dadar,
according to media reports. The ED has recorded statements of Madhuri Rawat and
Varsha Raut.