Patra chawl case: ED searches at three premises linked to construction firm

According to ED officers, searches were conducted at three premises of a real estate development firm

Mumbai The Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched three locations in Mumbai on Wednesday in connection with the ongoing investigation into the Patra Chawl case, in which veteran Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut was arrested on August 1.

The agency searched the firm’s head office in Vikhroli, as well as two other premises in Bhandup and Mulund. (Nitin Lawate/ANI)

According to ED officers, searches were conducted at three premises of a real estate development firm. The agency searched the firm’s head office in Vikhroli, as well as two other premises in Bhandup and Mulund.

“Documents as well as other evidence relevant to the investigation are being taken into custody. The searches are being conducted on the basis of certain facts that have come to light in the probe and need to be corroborated,” an ED officer said.

The agency has alleged financial malpractices to the tune of a whopping ₹1,034 crore in the redevelopment of the Patra Chawl in Goregaon, in which Raut and his family members as well as associates are alleged to have benefitted. Raut is currently in judicial custody.

The ED had earlier attached assets worth over ₹11.15 crore belonging to Raut’s wife Varsha and Raut’s aide, Pravin Raut, who is the former director of Guruashish Construction Pvt Ltd, based in the Thane district. The attached assets also included some plots of land jointly owned by Varsha and Swapna Patkar, whose husband Sujit is said to be a close associate of Raut.

Pravin was arrested in the case in February this year, while Varsha has been questioned by the ED twice so far.