IL&FS Case: Raj Thackeray Reaches Enforcement Directorate’s Office, Security Beefed Up in Mumbai
Mumbai Police has imposed Section 144 outside the ED office in South Mumbai, in Dadar and parts of Central Mumbai.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray has reached the Enforcement Directorate's office in South Mumbai for interrogation in a money laundering case.
He was accompanied by his family, including wife Sharmila, son Amit and daughter-in-law Mitali. After he entered the ED office alone at 11:30 am, the family camped at a nearby hotel.
ED has summoned Thackeray in a case pertaining to alleged irregularities in an IL&FS loan to Kohinoor CTNL Infrastructure Co. Pvt. Ltd.
IL&FS Probe: MNS Dubs Enforcement Directorate Notice To Raj Thackeray As ‘Political Vendetta’
Mumbai Police has imposed Section 144 of Code of Criminal Procedure (banning unlawful assembly) outside the ED office, in some parts of Dadar, where the MNS chief resides, and parts of Central Mumbai. The move was taken apprehending law and order problem, a police official said.
"Raj Thackeray has appealed his party workers not to throng outside the ED office but we don't want to take any chances," the official said. "We have imposed Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code under the jurisdiction of Mata Ramabai Ambedkar Marg Police Station, where the ED office is located.”
Section 144 prohibits assembly of more than four persons in an area where there is likelihood of breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquility.
Earlier, Thackeray had appealed to MNS workers not to protest over the issue.
"The area outside the ED office has been covered with barricades from three sides of the building and there is just one way to enter or exit," the official cited above said.
Police personnel have been deployed in Dadar and other places where the MNS has stronghold, to maintain law and order, the official said.
On Wednesday, Mumbai Police served notices to MNS functionaries and several party workers under Section 149 of CrPC as a precautionary measure. Section 149 pertains to prevention of cognisable offences. MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande was taken into custody on Thursday morning. Party workers Santosh Dhuri and Rajan More were detained from Mumbai and Thane, respectively.
The ED is probing alleged irregularities relating to loans and equity investment worth over Rs 450 crore by IL&FS in Kohinoor CTNL, which is developing Kohinoor Square tower in Dadar. Former Maharashtra chief minister and senior Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi's son Unmesh Joshi was also summoned by the ED in this case.