Slamming the BJP over the arrest of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, party chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday said he is proud of him as he did not succumb to any pressure.

Talking to reporters here, Thackeray termed Raut, arrested by the ED in a money laundering cases, as a hardcore Shiv Sainik of Sena founder late Bal Thackeray.

"I am proud of Sanjay Raut. What crime has he committed? He is a journalist, a Shiv Sainik, is fearless and speaks what he does not approve of," Thackeray said.

The former Maharashtra chief minister targeted BJP for what he called vendetta politics.

Earlier, Uddhav Thackeray met with family members of Sanjay Raut in suburban Mumbai. Thackeray visited Raut's residence in Bhandup along with party MP Arvind Sawant, MLA Ravindra Waikar and Sena leader Milind Narvekar.

Raut and Thackeray are known to share a close bond.

At Raut's residence, Thackeray met with his elderly mother, wife, daughters and other family members.

Raut's mother and wife had turned emotional while he was being taken away by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, Raut's brother and party MLA Sunil Raut had told PTI that Thackeray is firmly behind the family of the arrested leader.

The ED had arrested Raut in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the redevelopment of a Mumbai 'chawl' after conducting a nine-hour search at his residence, during which Rs 11.5 lakh in cash was seized.

Raut had denied the allegations and said he was framed owing to political vendetta.