Uddhav Thackeray's relative raided, Rs 6.45 crore frozen

Mumbai, Mar 22: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's brother-in-law was raided by the Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday. The agency has freezed assets worth Rs 6.45 crore in a money laundering case.

The ED on Tuesday said it has attached assets worth Rs 6.45 crore of a company owned by the brother-in-law of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in connection with a money laundering investigation.

In a statement, the Enforcement Directorate said it has issued a provisional order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to attach 11 residential flats in Neelambari project, located in Thane near Mumbai, of Shree Saibaba Grihanirmiti Private Limited. Shridhar Madhav Patankar, the brother of Thackeray's wife Rashmi, "owns and controls" Shree Saibaba Grihanirmiti Private Limited, it said.

The agency alleged funds that were allegedly siphoned off in a money laundering case being investigated against a company named Pushpak Bullion were "parked" in the real estate projects of Shree Saibaba Grihanirmiti Pvt. Ltd.

The ED action against the brother-in-law of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in connection with a money laundering investigation smacks of autocracy, said Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut.

"BJP is taking such action in states where it is not in power. The objective is power," Raut said. This action by the central agency shows autocracy, he said.

"Maharashtra's public knows well about the Thackeray family... this is a dangerous start of dictatorship. Winning in 4 states doesn't make you the ruler of the country. We're ready to go into jails but we're also ready to fight for freedom for this country's democracy," he added.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar said there was a political motive behind such action.

"The misuse of these resources (central agencies) is an important issue facing the nation today. This programme (action) has been undertaken with political motive, to harass some persons," Pawar said.