Sanjay Raut backs Raj Thackeray, but defends Chidambaram arrest

A day after Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray threw his weight behind estranged cousin Raj Thackeray, facing ED probe in a money laundering case, party MP Sanjay Raut also came out in support of the MNS chief, but defended CBI's action against ex-Union minister P Chidambaram. There was "ample evidence" against former finance minister Chidambaram, Raut claimed, adding that constantly dubbing the action of the investigating agencies' as "political vendetta" would demoralise them. The senior Congress leader was arrested on Wednesday night by the CBI in the INX Media money laundering case.

"There has been ample evidence against Chidambaram, his son was already arrested in the same case. Chidambaram tried to evade arrest for sometime. Constantly terming the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) action as political vendetta would demoralise the investigating officials of the department," Sanjay Raut said.

However, Raut came out in support of Raj Thackeray, summoned by the ED in a case of alleged irregularities related to Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (IL&FS) loan to Kohinoor CTNL.

"Uddhav Thackeray already made it clear yesterday that nothing concrete will be found against Raj. As Uddhav has extended support to his brother, his entire family is behind Raj Thackeray. Let the investigation get over. Raj is cooperating with the ED, unlike P Chidambaram," the Rajya Sabha member said.

READ | IL&FS case: Raj Thackeray's aide detained ahead of leader's ED probe

Raj Thackeray reaches ED office

Summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case of IL&FS, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray reached the agency’s office in south Mumbai on Thursday with his family members. He was accompanied by wife Sharmila, son Amit and daughter-in-law Mitali. Meanwhile, Mumbai police has imposed section 144 of CrPC (banning unlawful assembly) outside the ED office. The agency is probing alleged irregularities relating to loans and equity investment worth over ₹450 crore by IL&FS in Kohinoor CTNL Infrastructure Company, which is developing Kohinoor Square tower in Mumbai’s Dadar area.

READ | Raj Thackeray ED notice: Section 144 imposed outside agency office

Chidambaram arrested, appears before court

73-year-old Chidambaram also the courtroom in Delhi with his family and lawyers, amid heavy security outside the court. He was arrested late on Wednesday night from his Jor Bagh residence. The CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to the INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram's tenure as the finance minister. Thereafter, the ED lodged a money laundering case in this regard in 2018. 

READ | CBI seeks custodial interrogation of Chidambaram in INX Media case

READ | Chidambaram arrested, Karti's plush Spanish villa photos accessed