In a move that evoked sharp criticism from the Opposition parties, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoned MNS chief Raj Thackeray for inquiries on August 22 in connection with a probe into an alleged IL&FS-related case.
The ED is investigating the alleged irregularities in the IL&FS’s loans and investments worth over Rs.860 crore in M/s Kohinoor CTNL, a company funded by former Maharashtra CM Manohar Joshi’s son Unmesh Joshi.
Jr Joshi has gone to the ED office on Monday. Apart from being issued a notice, the MNS chief has been asked to present himself in the ED headquarters here on Thursday.
M/s Kohinoor CTNL has been under ED scanner for being a prominent defaulter of IL&FS, amounting to an estimated Rs 135 crore.
Unmesh along with son along with IL&FS and Raj Thackeray-owned Matoshree Construction had in
2005 jointly had made a bid and bought for the NTPC’s Kohinoor Mill’s 4.8-acre property for Rs 421 crore.
In 2008, the IL&FS reneged from the deal and surrendered its shares for only Rs 90 crore, as against an investment of Rs 225 crore made in M/s Kohinoor CTNL. Following the IL &FS’s exit, Raj also exited from the venture after selling his shares.
In 2017, M/s Kohinoor CTNL entered into an agreement to sell some commercial and residential properties in the upcoming Kohinoor Square Towers to IL&FS to settle outstanding of around Rs 500 crore in loans. Following this, IL&FS extended another Rs 100 crore to Kohinoor CTNL on which it defaulted. Jr Joshi’s company is now under control of another company.
Raj, who was a staunch supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, turned a vociferous critic more than two years ago. Though his party did not contest the Lok Sabha polls this year, Raj campaigned against the Modi-led BJP in the LS polls.
Raj was also instrumental in bringing the Opposition parties on one platform against EVMs. The Opposition parties have planned a morcha to the State Election Commission demanding the use of ballot papers in the State Assembly polls to be held in October this year.
The ED’s notice and summons to the MNS chief is being seen as a political vendetta.
Slamming the Modi Government for the move against Raj, Maharashtra Congress president Balasaheb Thorat said, “The BJP-led Government at the Centre is trying to intimidate the MNS chief who had raised issues of public importance during the Lok Sabha poll campaign”
Thorat charged that the Modi government was trying to silence the Opposition by using the various investigating agencies. “Instead of addressing pressing issues like inflation, unemployment, the economic crises, or farmers problems, the government is trying to silence the Opposition through the investigating agencies,” he said.
Mumbai NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik charged that the Government to suppress Opposition’s dissent. “The ED is being used by the Government to target the Opposition leaders who criticise the Government. We stand by the MNS chief,” Malik said.
Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana chief Raju Shetti also came down heavily on the Government for alleged misuse of the ED move against Raj, a move that he termed as ‘witch-hunt’. “The MNS chief is being targeted for his campaign Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs),” Shyetti said.
