ED questions Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut's brother in money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate ED Tuesday questioned Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Rauts younger brother Sandeep Raut in connection with the money laundering case related to the Khichdi scam of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMCSandeep Raut accompanied by Sanjay Raut appeared before the probe agency at its office in Ballard Estate in south Mumbai around 1130 am newswire PTI reportedThe ED has arrested Aditya Thackerays close aide and Yuva Sena functionary Suraj Chavan in the case alleging that he helped Force One Multi Services to bag the contract due to his proximity to a senior politician and a BMC official and made a wrongful gain of Rs 135 crore out of the transactionSandeep Raut has called the case baseless and politically motivatedSpeaking to media persons outside the ED office Sandeep Raut said The allegations against me are baseless and wrong The ED called me here for interrogation today and I will answer whatever questions the agency asks The whole case is politically driven nothing elseSanjay Raut is speaking out against them BJPled Centre and has to be pulled down This is the motivation behind putting the ED on us This is being done to pressurise the Raut family he said according to newswire ANISome 56 lakh transactions were recorded in my account in the matter This is not an ED case The matter pertains to the Covid period I fed khichdi to many poor people during that time but I am still being made an accused The whole case is politicised I am not afraid because I havent done anything wrong he addedAccompanied by supporters Sandeep Raut was dropped off at the federal agencys office by his brother Sanjay RautMeanwhile another Sena Uddhav faction leader Kishori Pednekar also appeared before the ED at 1130 am for questioning in the alleged body bag scam case during the Covid periodEarlier on January 28 the ED summoned Sandeep Raut for questioning in connection with the alleged scam caseEarlier on January 18 Shiv Sena UBT leader Suraj Chavan and an alleged close aide of party leader Aaditya Thackeray were sent to ED custody in the caseChavan was alleged to have been involved in financial irregularities worth Rs 1 crore linked to the distribution of khichdi to migrant workers during the Covid19 pandemicIn June last year the ED conducted raids at 15 locations in Mumbai including Suraj Chavans residence recovering documents in connection with the scamHitting out at the ruling BJPled NDA government in the state over the arrest of Shiv Sena UBT leader Suraj Chavan in connection with the alleged BMC Khichdi Covid scam case former minister and party MLA Aaditya Thackeray said all corruption taints are washed clean when opposition leaders are put through the BJPs washing machineLast year raids were also conducted at locations associated with some officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC and some other people including IAS officer Sanjeev Jaiswal in connection with the hospital management contracts during the Covid periodThe ED has alleged that agents linked to some politicians used influence to ensure the BMC awarded khichdi contracts to their associates The khichdi suppliers cheated the BMC by supplying less than the agreed quantity and after submitting inflated bills it was alleged With inputs from agencies