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Tag: Sanjay Raut

  • Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut leaves ED office after 10 hours of grilling

    By Online Desk

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Friday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) here to record his statement in a money laundering probe, and left after more than 10 hours.

    Raut reached the ED office located at the Ballard Estate in south Mumbai around 11.30 am. He was seen leaving the office around 10 at night.

    Heavy police force was deployed outside the central agency’s office as a large number of Shiv Sena workers were present at the spot. Barricades were placed on the roads leading to the office.

    After his arrival, the Sena MP, sporting a saffron muffler around his neck, waved at his supporters before entering the office with his lawyer.

    Speaking to reporters before going inside, Raut said, “I will cooperate with the agency in the investigation. It had summoned me, they require some information from me and it is my duty as a Member of Parliament, a responsible citizen and a leader of a political party to cooperate with them.”

    ALSO READ | Shiv Sena is where Thackerays are; new govt formed by BJP with group that split Sena: Raut

    He said he was “fearless and undaunted” as he has “not done anything wrong in life”. When asked whether it is a politically motivated case, Raut said, “We will come to know that later. I think I am appearing before an agency which is neutral, and I have full confidence in them.

    “Earlier in the day, the Sena leader posted a tweet saying, “I will be appearing bfore the ED today at 12 noon. I respect the Summons issued to me and it’s my duty to co-operate with the investigation agencies. I appeal Shivsena workers not to gather at the ED office.

    Don’t worry!” The ED had summoned the Rajya Sabha member for questioning in the money laundering probe linked to the re-development of a Mumbai ‘chawl’ (tenement) and related financial transactions involving his wife and friends.

    The agency had earlier summoned him on June 28.

    However, Raut had termed the ED’s summons as a “conspiracy” to stop him from fighting against the Shiv Sena’s political opponents in the wake of a rebellion by party MLAs, and said he will not be able to appear before the agency on Tuesday as he had to attend a meeting in Alibag (Raigad district). The ED then issued a fresh summons and asked him to appear before it on Friday.

  • Amid Shiv Sena legacy war, Uddhav Thackeray ‘removes’ Eknath Shinde as ‘Sena leader’

    By Online Desk

    Amid the Shiv Sena legacy war between Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and former CM Uddhab Thackeray, the latter on Friday removed the former from the post of Shiv Sena leader in the party organisation.

    In a letter issued by the party, Uddhav Thackeray said Shinde has been indulging in “anti-party activities” and has voluntarily given up his membership. “In exercise of the powers vested in me as the Shivsena Paksha Pramukha, I remove you from the post of Shivsena Leader in the party organisation,” the letter signed by Uddhav Thackeray said.

    Eknath Shinde, who led a revolt against Thackeray, had recently decided to name his faction “Shiv Sena Balasaheb”.

    Earlier, senior Sena leader Sanjay Raut said a new government in Maharashtra under Shinde has been formed by the BJP with a group of MLAs that split the party, and asserted that the Sena is where the Thackerays are.

    ALSO READ | Shiv Sena is where Thackerays are; new govt formed by BJP with group that split Sena: Raut

    Taking a dig at Deputy Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, Raut said had the BJP stuck to its word in 2019, it could have had the CM’s post for two-and-a-half years and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) experiment involving his party, the NCP and the Congress would not have taken place.

    What has the BJP achieved, Raut asked after Fadnavis took charge as the deputy chief minister. “We will try to expand our party under Uddhav Thackeray. A group split from the Sena has formed the government with the BJP,” Raut told reporters.

    He was responding to a question whether the new government under Eknath Shinde is a Shiv Sena-BJP government. Raut stressed that Shinde’s move of splitting the Sena will not weaken the party.

  • Money-laundering probe: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut appears before ED

    By PTI

    MUMBAI:  Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Friday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) here to record his statement in connection with a money-laundering probe.

    Raut reached the ED office located at the Ballard Estate in south Mumbai around 11.30 am.

    Heavy police force was deployed outside the central agency’s office as large number of Shiv Sena workers were present at the spot.

    Barricades were placed on the roads leading to the office.

    After his arrival, the Sena MP, seen sporting a saffron muffler around his neck, waved at his supporters before entering the office along with his lawyer.

    Speaking to reporters before going inside, Raut said, “I will co-operate with the agency in the investigation.

    It had summoned me, they require some information from me and it is my duty as a member of Parliament, responsible citizen and leader of a political party to co-operate with them.”

    He said he was “fearless and undaunted” as he has “not done anything wrong in life”.

    When asked whether it is a politically motivated case, Raut said, “We will come to know it later. I think I am appearing before the agency, which is neutral, and I have full confidence in them.”

    Earlier in the day, the Sena leader posted a tweet saying, “I will be appearing bfore the ED today at 12 noon. I respect the Summons issued to me and it’s my duty to co-operate with the Investigation agencies. I appeal Shivsena workers not to gather at the ED office. Don’t worry !”

    The ED had summoned the Rajya Sabha member for questioning in the money laundering probe linked to the re-development of a Mumbai ‘chawl’ and other related financial transactions involving his wife and friends.

    The agency had earlier summoned him on June 28.

    However, Raut had termed the ED’s summons as a “conspiracy” to stop him from fighting against the Shiv Sena’s political opponents in the wake of a rebellion by party MLAs and said he will not be able to appear before the agency on Tuesday as he had to attend a meeting in Alibag (Raigad district).

    Accordingly, the ED had issued a fresh summons and asked him to appear before it on Friday.

  • Shiv Sena crisis: PIL seeks FIR against Thackerays, Sanjay Raut; Thane leaders supporting Eknath Shinde removed from party

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: A public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the registration of an FIR against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, minister Aaditya Thackeray and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut for sedition and breach of public peace was filed in the Bombay High Court on Tuesday amid a standoff between the MVA government and the rebel Sena MLAs.

    The petition, filed by Pune-based social worker Hemant Patil, requested the HC to restrain the trio from making any further statements against Eknath Shinde, who is leading the dissident MLAs.

    The petition claimed that pursuant to the rebellion by several MLAs of Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, protests have been held at various districts in Maharashtra and verbal attacks have been made against them.

    “The Shiv Sena MLAs, who are rebelling, are camped in Assam because of the threats given by respondents 5 to 7 (Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut). Respondent No.7 (Raut) has given a threat to all of the 40 MLAs stating that their bodies will come from Assam and will be sent directly to the morgue for postmortem. In this way all of them are creating the situation of riot and violence in the State of Maharashtra,” it said.

    The PIL will come up for hearing in due course of time.

    On the other hand, former Thane mayor and Shiv Sena coordinator in the district Meenakshi Shinde has been expelled from the party amid a rebellion by Eknath Shinde.

    She was being expelled for anti-party activities on the directions of party president (and chief minister) Uddhav Thackeray, a Sena statement issued here on Tuesday said.

    Earlier, another former Thane mayor, Naresh Mhaske, and coordinator Rahul Londe were expelled from the party.

    All these leaders have been actively taking part in rallies and gatherings in support of Eknath Shinde.

    In another development, the photographs of Eknath Shinde and his Lok Sabha MP son Shrikant Shinde have been removed from the Sena office in Dombivali, and others are expected to follow suit.

  • ‘How long will you hide in Guwahati, you will have to come to chowpatty’: Raut taunts rebel MLAs

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday posted a tweet targetting the rebel MLAs of the party, in which he said that however long they may “hide” in Assam’s Guwahati, they will ultimately have to come to “chowpatty”, a reference to Mumbai.

    “How long will you hide in Guwahati, you will have to come to chowpatty,” the Sena MP tweeted in Hindi along with a photo of the state Assembly’s Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal looking into the distance.

    Key government establishments, including the Mantralaya (state secretariat), Vidhan Bhavan (legislature complex), Raj Bhavan and the chief minister’s official bungalow ‘Varsha’ are located in the vicinity of the Girgaum beach, which is also known the Girgaum chowpatty, in south Mumbai.

    Majority of Shiv Sena MLAs have shifted their loyalty to minister Eknath Shinde and are currently camping in Guwahati, plunging the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who heads the Sena, into a crisis.

    The Maharashtra legislature secretariat had on Saturday issued ‘summons’ to 16 of the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, including Shinde, seeking written replies by the evening of June 27 to the complaints seeking their disqualification.

    The party’s national executive has authorised Uddhav Thackeray to take action against the rebel MLAs.

  • Sena’s count in Assembly gone down, but we are confident of rebels supporting MVA in floor test: Raut

    Raut also attacked BJP leader Narayan Rane, without naming him, for “threatening” NCP chief Sharad Pawar. Shinde is currently camping with 37 rebel MLAs of the Sena and nine independents in a hotel.

  • Maharashtra political crisis: Sanjay Raut hints at dissolution of Assembly

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday indicated that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray could recommend to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to dissolve the state Assembly, as the crisis for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government deepened.

    “The political developments in Maharashtra are headed towards dissolution of the state Assembly,” Raut said. Shiv Sena’s dissident leader Eknath Shinde on Wednesday asserted that 40 MLAs from Maharashtra have accompanied him to Guwahati in Assam.

    Follow live coverage here: Maharashtra turmoil

    The Shiv Sena legislators have rebelled against the party, plunging the tripartite MVA government, comprising the Sena, NCP and Congress, into a crisis.

    Earlier, the MLAs were taken to Surat in Gujarat from Mumbai on Tuesday, and the decision to shift them to Guwahati was taken on security grounds, according to another BJP source.

  • Shinde pressured to rebel against Sena, says Sanjay Raut; alleges police attack on two MLAs in Surat

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: In a veiled attack on BJP, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday claimed Sanjay Raut was pressured to go against the Uddhav Thackeray-led party and also alleged that at least two MLAs accompanying the minister in Surat were beaten up by the police and goons under ‘Operation Kamal’ (lotus).

    Speaking on the political turmoil in view of Shinde going incommunicado and camping in Surat with some MLAs of Sena, Raut hinted at pressure from Central agencies and said he was aware of the “compulsions” of Shinde that might have prompted him to rebel against the party.

    Raut also claimed that some of the MLAs were misled and “kidnapped” to Gujarat.

    “Two of the MLAs (with Shinde), including Nitin Deshmukh, were beaten up last night. Deshmukh tried to run away but he was beaten up by the police and goondas under ‘Operation Kamal’ and suffered a heart attack. Some of the MLAs have told us that they were misled and taken to Gujarat,” he claimed.

    Raut alleged that MLAs of Sena had received at least four to five calls from their colleagues who told them over the phone that they were misled and requested their rescue.

    “At least four to five calls have been received by some MLAs of Sena. The caller MLAs said that they were being misled and kidnapped. They said that they were called for dinner in Thane (on Monday) and then taken away. Their family members have lodged police complaints about their husbands and fathers going missing,” Raut said.

    READ HERE: Maharashtra turmoil LIVE | MVA leaders huddle at CM Uddhav’s residence

    Raut said he too had received notices from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) but never buckled under pressure. “But I will never quit Shiv Sena which is like my mother. I am aware of Shinde’s compulsions,” he added.

    He claimed that 14 to 15 MLAs of the Sena are accompanying Shinde, while at least 30 MLAs attended the meeting with CM Thackeray in Mumbai on Tuesday. The Shiv Sena has 55 MLAs in the House.

    Raut also justified the removal of Shinde as the group leader of the Sena in the Legislative Assembly, saying disciplinary action was required. Earlier in the day, Raut had said that communication has been established with Shinde “who is not in Mumbai”.

    ALSO READ | Gujarat BJP’s CR Patil in touch with Eknath Shinde for long time: Sources

  • Raut’s statements against Medha Somaiya prima facie defamatory, says court; issues summons

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, prima facie, made defamatory statements against BJP leader Kirit Somaiya’s wife Medha Somaiya, a Mumbai court held while issuing summons to the Sena leader in a defamation case filed by her.

    Metropolitan Magistrate (Sewree court) P I Mokashi had issued summons to Raut on Thursday, and the detailed order was made available on Friday.

    The magistrate has directed the Sena leader to appear before the court by July 4.

    The issuance of a process marks the beginning of criminal proceedings before a metropolitan or judicial magistrate based on a complaint lodged by an individual.

    Once the process is issued, the accused person has to appear before the court.

    Somaiya, in her complaint, filed through advocate Vivekanand Gupta, has claimed Raut had made baseless and completely defamatory allegations against her and her husband, accusing them of being involved in a scam worth Rs 100 crore in the construction and maintenance of some public toilets under the jurisdiction of the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation.

    “The statements made by the accused to the media are per se defamatory. The statements have been made to malign my character in the eyes of the general public,” the complaint had stated.

    She had urged the court to issue a notice to Raut and begin proceedings against him on the charges of defamation as defined under sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code.

    The magistrate held that documents and video clips produced on record, prima facie, reveals the accused has made defamatory statements against the complainant (Medha) on April 15 and 16 , 2022 so that it will be seen by the public at large and read by the public in the newspapers.

    It is also, prima facie, proved by the complainant that words spoken by Raut were such that it has harmed the reputation of the complainant, the court said.

    Thereby, ingredients of section 500 is, prima facie, proved against the accused, the court added.

    IPC section 499 pertains to defamation, while section 500 spells out punishment for the offence, which may be simple imprisonment for a term that may extend to two years or fine or both.

  • Shiv Sena didn’t betray anyone, but since BJP didn’t keep its word Maharashtra got good government in MVA: Sanjay Raut

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maintaining that Shiv Sena never betrayed anyone, party leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said that since the BJP did not honour its commitment made to the Sena, Maharashtra got a “good government” in the form of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

    Addressing party workers in Kolhapur district of western Maharashtra, Raut also said that the BJP can never return to power in the state.

    “Shiv Sena has never betrayed anyone. But since BJP did not honour the commitment made to our party, the state could get a good government in the form of MVA. Now, BJP will never come back to power in Maharashtra,” he said.

    The Shiv Sena and BJP, which shared power in the state during 2014-19, had snapped ties after the 2019 Assembly poll results following differences over sharing the chief minister’s post.

    The Sena then joined hands with the NCP and Congress, an unlikely alliance of parties with divergent views, to form the MVA government.