Money-laundering probe: ED attaches Anil Parab’s properties worth ₹10.20 crore

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday provisionally attached 42 guntas owned by Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MLC Anil Parab in Ratnagiri’s Dapoli and at Murud in Raigad district

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday provisionally attached 42 guntas owned by Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MLC Anil Parab in Ratnagiri’s Dapoli and at Murud in Raigad district. The assets, which are valued at ₹10.20 crore, also include Sai Resort NX Parab allegedly constructed in violation of coastal regulation zone (CRZ) norms on the Dapoli land.

Mumbai, India - May 27, 2020: Mahavikas Aghadi Alliance minister from Anil Parab addressing Media at Shivsena office Shivalaya at nariman point, to clarify regarding opposition leader of Maharashtra Mr. Devendra Fadnavis yesterday announcement, in Mumbai, India, on Wednesday, May 27,, 2020. (Photo by Bhushan Koyande/ HT (HT PHOTO)

The Murud property is worth ₹2.73 crore while the resort along with the plot is estimated at ₹7.46 crore, the ED said in a statement.

The agency began its investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act after the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had filed a complaint against Parab, Sai Resort, Sea Conch Resort, and others, before the judicial magistrate court in Dapoli, alleging violation of sections 7, 15 and 19 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. An FIR was also registered at Dapoli police station against Parab and others for cheating, and causing losses to the state exchequer.

ED officials said Parab, in connivance with his friend and businessman Sadanand Kadam (brother of politician Ramdas Kadam), illegally obtained permission from the sub-divisional officer to convert the Dapoli land from agricultural usage to non-agricultural purposes.

“Parab illegally acquired permission from the revenue department to build twin bungalows of ground+1 floor on the piece of land falling under CRZ-III — no development zone. After obtaining the permission, he illegally constructed Sai Resort NX with ground+2 floors,” the agency said.

The ED also claimed that Parab with the sole intention to hide his identity as the owner obtained the permission from the revenue department in the name of earlier land owner, Vibhas Sathe, by forging his signature on the application.

Parab, the statement said, also hid the fact — that the land fell within CRZ-III — from the village panchayat and pressured the rural body to transfer the land along with the building in his name although there was no mention of any construction in the original sale deed.

The agency further said the Sena leader cheated the panchayat by making an application for taxation purpose before the completion of resort.

The payment for construction was deliberately made in cash and construction commenced even before the land was registered in Parab’s name in order to hide the identity of the real owner so that if any violation came to the fore in future, the onus could be on Sathe, the ED said.

“When complaints over the illegal construction of Sai Resort NX came to light, Parab sold the said land on paper to Sadanand Kadam to conceal the illegalities and irregularities,” the statement added.