Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut detained after day-long raids in alleged land scam case, reports ndtv.com

Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Sunday conducted a search at Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut's residence in Mumbai in connection with a money laundering case, an official said.

The action follows multiple summons issued by the ED against Raut, the latest being on July 27.

Raut was summoned for questioning by the ED in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the re-development of a Mumbai 'chawl' and related transactions involving his wife and 'associates'.

At 7 am on Sunday, ED officials, accompanied by CISF personnel, reached Raut's residence and began the searches.

The Rajya Sabha MP, who is in the Uddhav Thackeray camp, had denied any wrongdoing and alleged that he was being targeted due to political vendetta.

"I swear by late Balasabheb Thackeray that I have nothing to do with any scam," Raut tweeted shortly after the ED action.

"I will die but won't leave Shiv Sena," Raut added.

Raut's lawyers had met ED officials in Mumbai with his written response to the summons and sought time for him after the first week of August.

The federal probe agency was supposed to issue him a fresh date after going through the submissions made by his legal team, officials said.

The Sena leader has denied any wrongdoing and alleged that he is being targeted for political vendetta.

Raut is a loyalist of former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, who was recently forced out of office following a rebellion and split in the Shiv Sena.

Raut was questioned in the case on July 1. He had spent about 10 hours with the investigating officer, during which his statement was recorded under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).