Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut's wife skips summons, seeks four more days
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had summoned Varsha Raut for questioning in the PMC Bank money laundering case on December 29.
FollowMumbai: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut's wife Varsha did not appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) today (December 29) in connection with the Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative (PMC) Bank scam case.
She has sought time from the agency till January 5. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had summoned Varsha Raut for questioning in the PMC Bank money laundering case on December 29.
Talking to the media, Sanjay Raut, who is also the chief spokesperson of the Shiv Sena, said more time has been sought. “We have asked for about four more days,” said Raut.
“I have still not seen the notice but will reply to it as, despite differences, we respect the central agencies. It is an action out of political vendetta and everybody knows it. I am a Rajya Sabha MP and a lawmaker. I will respect the law despite some people holding it hostage and managing it to evade action,” he added.
Raut denied any wrongdoing, alleging that those indulging in financial scams tend to join the Bharatiya Janata Party. He claimed to have a list of “120 BJP leaders who are fit case” for a probe by the law enforcement agency, according to NDTV.
If exposed, “They will have to take flights out of the country like Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya,” the Shiv Sena leader added.
Raut's wife Varsha Raut had been asked to meet officials at the Mumbai office of the Enforcement Directorate which is probing financial transactions between her and Pravin Raut, who is under arrest in the case, sources said. This was the third summon sent to the Sena leader's wife, as per reports. She had skipped the earlier two summons citing ill health.
In September last year, the RBI had capped the withdrawal limit and restricted the activities of the PMC Bank after an alleged fraud of Rs 4,355 crore came to light.
The Enforcement Directorate had later seized and identified movable and immovable assets worth more than Rs 3,830 crore owned by Housing Development Infrastructures Ltd (HDIL) in connection with the case.
