A day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoned Shiv Sena leader and Transport Minister in the tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government Anil Parab on August 31, the agency reportedly conducted raids on the officials of the department. The allies slammed the action saying it has become clear that the ED was working on directions of the BJP.
“The happenings in Maharashtra are nothing but political vendetta. The ED is probing individuals and raiding places as demanded by the BJP. This is nothing but political gameplan,” said Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Minister Nawab Malik.
State NCP president Jayant Patil too said the ED is being used to trouble the MVA government. “The practice of troubling anti-BJP leaders is seen not only in Maharashtra but across the country. The leaders being targeted are capable to reply in same coin but this is nothing but an effort to defame the State government using Central agencies,” said Mr. Patil.
The Shiv Sena has termed the ED notice as love letter. “For any political worker, the ED notice is no longer a death warrant, but love letter. Power is not permanent. They have their days of power in Delhi. Our days will also come,” said Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut.
Mr. Parab has already said he does not know the matter regarding which he has been summoned by the ED.
Unauthorised resort
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya on Monday claimed that Mr. Parab has built an unauthorised resort by violating coastal zone regulations in Murud village in Dapoli tehsil of costal Ratnagiri district which should be immediately demolished.
Mr. Somaiya alleged that one Bajrang Kharmate, deputy regional transport officer, acts as an agent of the Minister and deals with corruption in transfers in the RTO department. It is said Mr. Parab was under the ED lense after dismissed Mumbai police officer Sachin Waze tried to submit a letter to the NIA court claiming the Mminister had asked him to extort crores of rupees.
Mr. Parab has already denied all the allegations.
