Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut's brother Sandeep Raut on Tuesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and joined the probe in a money laundering case connected to alleged irregularities in the distribution of khichdi to migrant workers during the pandemic. The ED is looking to find out the details of certain money transactions between contractors under the scanner and Sandeep Raut, and the questioning is expected to last long. The agency suspects the money transferred could be part of the proceeds of crime. Sandeep Raut has been claiming that the money transferred by a contractor to his account was for the kitchen materials and other logistics he had provided to the contractor. Sanjay Raut's close aide Sujit Patkar is already an accused in the case. The ED has already arrested Yuva Sena leader Suraj Chavan, a close aide of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, in the case involving alleged irregularities worth around Rs 6.7 crore. The money laundering case against Chavan and others is based on an FIR filed in September 2023 by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai police. The EOW had previously also questioned Sandeep Raut in the case. The EOW FIR named Patkar; Sunil alias Bala Kadam, who was allegedly involved in multiple BMC-related cases and arrested twice earlier; Sahyadri Refreshment’s Rajeev Salunkhe; Force One Multi Service’s partners and employees; Sneha Caterer’s partners; then assistant municipal commissioner (planning); and other unidentified BMC officials as the accused in the case. It was registered under sections 420 (cheating), 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 34 (common intention) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code. After EOW’s case, the ED registered a case in October 2023 and a few days later carried out searches at seven places, including the premises of BMC Deputy Municipal Commissioner Sangeeta Hasnale in Chembur and Chavan’s residence and some contractors in Mumbai.
