Kirit Somaiya claims 'Thackeray govt protecting Pratap Sarnaik in money laundering case'

Senior BJP leer Kirit Somaiya on Friday accused Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government of protecting Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik in a "Rs 175 crore MMRDA Security Contract Fraud." Somaiya's comments come after a Mumbai court on Thursday remanded Amit Chandole, an alleged associate of Pratap Sarnaik, in Enforcement Directorate's (ED) custody till vember 29 in a money laundering case.

Chandole was arrested by ED on late Wednesday night under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in a case against a security service provider company and ors.  central ncy sources h said that it was probing Chandole's alleged suspicious dealings with Sarnaik, Tops Group security providing service, and its promoter Rahul Nanda.

'Thackeray sarkar protecting Shiv Sena's Pratap Sarnaik'

In his tweet, Somaiya claimed that he h written to Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and Maharashtra government regarding "fraud" but MMRDA has "t filed a complaint". former MP claimed that a private FIR was registered on October 28 and asked: "Why inquiry/action till w?" 

Somaiya also shared a copy of letter he wrote to Niket Kaushik, Joint Commissioner of Police, Ecomic Offence Wing regarding "Fraud by/at Tops Securities Company Mumbai, Rahul Nanda and his family/colleagues."

ED launched searches at ten properties of Sarnaik, Nanda and a few ors on vember 24 in Mumbai and neighbouring Thane. Tops Group providing security guards to a Maharashtra government organisation during 2014-15 is under ED's scanner among or things, as per PTI sources.

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ED case was filed after studying a Mumbai Police ecomic offences wing FIR filed against promoters of business group on charges of alleged irregularities in acquisition of some overseas assets in 2009 and transactions of some trusts based abro. ED officials h also questioned MLA's elder son Vihang. Sarnaik, 56, represents Ovala-Maijwa constituency in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and is also a spokesperson for his party.

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