ED summons MNS chief, Sena leader’s son in laundering probe

New Delhi/Mumbai, August 19

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned MNS party chief Raj Thackeray in connection with its money laundering probe in the IL&FS alleged payment default crisis case, officials said on Monday.

It had also called Unmesh Joshi, son of former state chief minister and Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi, in the same case after which he deposed before the central agency in Mumbai on Monday, they said.

Unmesh Joshi’s statement has been recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said.

Officials said the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief has been asked to appear before the investigating officer of the case on August 22 at the agency’s zonal office in Mumbai.

The MNS dubbed as “political vendetta” the ED move to issue the notice to its cheif to join investigations.

“Raj Thackeray created a sensation during the Lok Sabha poll campaign earlier this year. It had a significant impact on people and to avoid a similar challenge ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, the ED has issued the notice. It is a case of political vendetta,” MNS spokesperson Sandeep Deshpande said.

The federal agency is probing Thackeray’s involvement in the case in connection with the IL&FS group’s loan equity investment of over Rs 850 crore in a company called Kohinoor CTNL. The company was promoted by Unmesh Joshi, son of Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi. Thackeray and Unmesh Joshi had jointly bid for some assets after creating a consortium but later the MNS supremo quit

IL&FS had invested over Rs 200 crore funds in Kohinoor CTNL and is said to have suffered a loss in the deal. The Enforcement Directorate, it is understood, wants to look into the entire transaction and hence has summoned the two. The agency had last week filed its first charge sheet before a special court in Mumbai in this case and had attached assets worth about Rs 570 crore.  — PTI

Dirty politics at play: Opposition 

• Maharashtra Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat said: "This is nothing but bulldozing tactics by the BJP government against the Opposition. Thackeray had raised several pertinent issues before the Lok Sabha elections and is now being targeted   
• NCP Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde said: “Speak out against us and you get an ED notice. What kind of dirty politics is being played?” 

Will protest biased action, warns MNS

The Kohinoor deal (which ED is probing) is very old and Raj Thackeray exited it long time back. If the government takes any action with prejudice against party chief Raj Thackeray, we will protest on streets. — Sandeep Deshpande, MNS spokesperson