The Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigating the Patra chawl land scam on Tuesday said that Rs three crores was paid in cash to the sellers by Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut as payment for the 10 land parcels.
The agency had earlier conducted searches at two locations in Mumbai in connection with its money laundering probe into alleged irregularities in the redevelopment of a local ‘chawl’ in which Raut was arrested recently.
The ED on Monday had told a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Mumbai that Raut and his family received “proceeds of crime” worth over Rs one crore generated out of alleged irregularities in the Patra chawl redevelopment project in suburban Goregaon.
These proceeds were then allegedly utilised for the purchase of the 10 land parcels located in Kihim beach, Alibag and the cash was provided by the director of Guruashish Constructions and prime accused in the case, Pravin Raut, ED said.
According to sources, the two premises included the residence of a person who handled cash transactions for the firm Housing Development Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL) and another premises belonging to the company.
The said person was also brought to the ED office and his statement was recorded. A source said that the person who had been brought in by the ED officials handled cash transactions for the firm and its subsidiaries and also handled accounts for the companies.
