Sanjay Raut was involved in Patra Chawl scam since inception: ED chargesheet | Exclusive

Sanjay Raut played a very crucial role in the granting of the project to GuruAshish Construction Pvt Ltd - a firm where his associates held board positions, the Enforcement Directorate said in its chargesheet.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut not only made over Rs 3 crore in the Patra Chawl scam but was also involved in the entire process of conceptualization to the execution of the redevelopment project, the Enforcement Directorate has claimed in its chargesheet.

“On August 12, 2006, then Union agriculture minister wanted a discussion about the redevelopment scheme for Siddharth Nagar EWS Row Houses/Tenements in Goregaon at the YB Chavan Centre in south Mumbai. Sanjay Raut and his associates were present at the meeting. Sanjay Raut was also a part of a meeting chaired by then chief minister of Maharashtra on October 3, 2007,” the chargesheet, accessed by India Today TV, said.

“Rakesh Wadhawan was later brought into the picture to execute the redevelopment of the Patra Chawal Project through GuruAshish Construction Pvt Ltd. In order to exercise control, Sanjay Rajaram Raut inducted Pravin Raut - his proxy and confidante - as a director in GuruAshish Construction Pvt Ltd,” it further said. GuruAshish Construction Pvt Ltd was working to redevelop the slum.

“Sanjay Raut received Proceeds of Crime (POC) to the extent of Rs 3.28 crore from GuruAshish Construction Pvt Ltd. This POC was generated by Guru Ashish Construction Pt Ltd by illegally selling the Floor Space Index, or FSI, to third party developers for Rs 1,034 crore. Sanjay Raut received huge cash through Pravin Raut and/or Rakesh Wadhawan and Sarang Wadhawan. The POC so received has been integrated and utilised for acquiring assets,” the financial probe agency said.

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“The amount so generated was transferred to the parent company - HDIL - and also sister entity for their business purposes. Money trail investigation also revealed that Pravin Raut received around Rs 112 crore in his bank account from HDIL and further transferred the same into acquiring assets, diverting them to the accounts of his business entity, family members, etc. Thus, Sanjay Raut is knowingly involved in the process of generating the proceeds of crime and its transfer for acquisition of assets and to transfer to other entities.”

“The proceeds of the crime, amounting to Rs 1,039.79 crore, were not utilised for the intended purpose and were siphoned off after routing the same in the various accounts of HDIL and group companies. There were withdrawals of cash amounts from these accounts and instances of such cash withdrawal amounting to Rs 9.6 crore have been highlighted earlier. Sanjay Raut infused/utilised a considerable amount of cash in the purchase of the land at Kihim, Alibaug, which has been confirmed by some of the sellers. This cash component was generated from the proceeds of crime diverted by Rakesh Wadhawan, Sarang Wadhawan and Pravin Raut.