Shiv Sena employees protest towards Somaiya over ED motion on Sanjay Raut

By PTI

NASHIK: Shiv Sena employees on Thursday staged a protest towards BJP chief Kirit Somaiya in Nashik metropolis within the wake of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) motion towards Sena MP Sanjay Raut.

During the protest, the Sena employees additionally sought clarification from Somaiya over an allegation towards him of misappropriating funds collected to avoid wasting decommissioned plane provider INS Vikrant from being scrapped.

On Tuesday, the ED had connected property value greater than Rs 11.15 crore of Raut’s spouse and two of his associates in a money-laundering investigation linked to sure land offers.

On Wednesday evening, the police registered an FIR towards Somaiya and his son Neil for alleged misappropriation of funds.

Sena employees, led by Nashik district unit chief Vijay Karanjkar, staged a protest at Shalimar Chowk towards Somaiya for levelling “false” expenses towards Raut and the next motion by the ED, the social gathering leaders mentioned.

They additionally burnt an effigy of Somaiya and shouted slogans towards him.

“The central agencies are gunning for Sena leaders as per the orders of the BJP. Kirit Somaiya, who blames others, has himself accumulated crores of rupees as funds were collected under the pretext to save INS Vikrant. What happened to that money? Somaiya should be charged for sedition,” Sena chief Sudhakar Badgujar mentioned.

Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Thursday claimed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) doesn’t conduct raids with out the consent of BJP leaders and mentioned the regulation from which the central company attracts its energy was “monstrous”.

Talking to reporters in Akola within the Vidarbha area, the NCP chief mentioned whoever speaks towards the BJP, the ED is unleashed on him.

Bhujbal mentioned, “The ED will not attack anyone unless told to do so by BJP leaders. If someone joins the BJP, the ED will not take action against him, but if you speak against the party, the ED will come hard on you.”

It could be very tough for an accused to get bail in ED circumstances, most of that are filed underneath the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the minister mentioned.

“The ED is a monstrous law (an apparent reference to PMLA). All of us need to come together and repeal the ED law,” he mentioned.

The ED is remitted with the duty of imposing the provisions of two particular fiscal legal guidelines – Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and PMLA.

“At present, the BJP is in power at the Centre so whenever it wants, it uses the ED (against opponents). Even if someone has not committed any crime, he is subjected to harassment,” Bhujbal mentioned.

People are affected by rising costs of important commodities, however the ED is getting used to divert consideration from such important points, the NCP chief mentioned.

Talking about state politics, Bhujbal claimed the opposition BJP was in a rush to dislodge the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi authorities.