Pravin Raut transferred Rs 55 lakh to Sanjay Raut’s wife through his wife’s account: ED

Alibaug land was bought after the receipt of funds by Pravin Raut and a huge amount is suspected to be paid in cash in 2010-2012 which is further being probed, said the ED.

Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials probing the Rs 1,034 crore Patra Chawl land scam case have found that Pravin Raut had made payment of Rs 55 lakh from the proceeds of crime through his wife's account to Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut's wife Varsha. Officials also learnt that hotel accommodation and tickets were booked for domestic as well as international travel of Sanjay Raut and associated persons. Also, land was bought after the receipt of funds by Pravin Raut in Alibaug and a huge amount is suspected to be paid in cash in 2010-2012, which is further being probed.

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The ED officials, during a search of the residence of Sujit Patkar, who is an associate of Pravin Raut and also closely known to Sanjay Raut, found some xerox copies of property documents related to Sanjay Raut. When they checked with sellers of the property, they came to know that the sellers had been coerced to sell the property and the registration of the said land parcels was done at lower prices than market price. The sellers also stated that they received payments in cash other than cheque payments for the properties. The ED officials said that it is suspected that huge amounts in crores have been paid to the sellers in cash and while the registration value is very less. The source of the said funds is yet to be ascertained.

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Pravin Raut had received Rs 95 crores from HDIL, which was shown as 25 per cent sweat equity. A statement by the CFO of HDIL was recorded on February 7 after the arrest of Pravin Raut and he has denied allotment of any sweat equity to Pravin Raut by HDIL. Officials while producing Pravin Raut at PMLA court also said that the statement of promoters of HDIL Sarang and Rakesh Wadhawan has to be recorded. Pravin had to be confronted with evidence and so extension of his ED custody was sought by officials.

The PMLA court extended the custody of Pravin Raut till February 14.

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