Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut seeks more time to appear before ED

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut sought more time to appear before the Enforcement Directorate ED in connection with a money laundering probe on TuesdayThe ED had summoned Rajya Sabha member Raut on Tuesday for questioning in the money laundering probe linked to the redevelopment of a Mumbai chawl and other related financial transactions involving his wife and friendsThe development comes as the Shiv Sena battles rebellion from a group of its MLAs putting a question mark on the future of Maharashtras Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA government Raut was not available on Tuesday due to his planned visit to Alibaug Raigad district following which his lawyer reached the EDs office here around 1115 am to seek some more time the official saidAlso read Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut gets ED summons in connection with moneylaundering caseOn Monday Raut said that he prefers to stay with the party in the time of crisis and will seek time from Enforcement DirectorateI knew ED is going to summon me I wont kneel down No matter what the rebel MLAs do I will not go to Guwahati I am Balasahebs Shiv Sainik and I will stay with my party I will not appear before the ED tomorrow I will seek time from ED but will definitely go after some time Raut said addressing the media personsSoon after he received a summons from the Enforcement Directorate Sanjay Raut on Monday alleged there was a conspiracy to stop him from fighting a big battle and said that even if he is beheaded he will not take the Guwahati routeAccording to official sources the ED had summoned the Shiv Sena leader for questioning on Tuesday in a money laundering case The move comes amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra in which rebel Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde are camping in GuwahatiIn April the ED had attached Rauts property in connection with the land scamA property worth Rs 9 crore of Rauts associate Pravin Raut and assets worth Rs 2 crore belonging to Varsha Raut the wife of Sanjay Raut were attached by the EDPravin had eight parcels of land in Alibaug and a flat registered in the name of Varsha Raut which were attached The ED had arrested Pravin in connection with the matterWe had filed a charge sheet in the matter against Pravin Sarang Wadhawan and Rakesh Wadhawan of HDIL and Guru Ashish Construction and others were named as an accused in the charge sheet said an ED officialDuring the probe the ED that Pravin allegedly paid Rs 55 lakh to Varsha This was paid from the bank account of Pravins wifeThe money was termed proceeds of crime by the EDIt was also alleged that the travel expenses of Sanjay Raut were borne by Pravin which included his hotel stay and air ticketsWith inputs from ANI PTI IANS