Maharashtra: ED Raids Uddhav Thackeray's Close Aide Ravindra Waikar In Money Laundering Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday (9 January) carried out searches at seven sites in Mumbai associated with Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Ravindra Waikar and his associates, in connection with a money laundering investigation tied to the development of a luxury hotel in Jogeshwari.

The case is apparently linked to the construction of a hotel at Jogeshwari by allegedly manipulating the land use conditions.

In November, the Enforcement Directorate had previously filed a case against Ravindra Waikar under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the 'Rs 500 crore 5-Star Hotel Scam'.

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It is alleged that Waikar defrauded the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation of Rs 500 crore by obtaining permission to build the five-star hotel on a plot reserved for a BMC playground.

Waikar, an MLA representing Jogeshwari East, is reportedly a close associate of the former Maharashtra chief minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.

The money laundering investigation conducted by the ED originates from an FIR lodged by the economic offences wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police.

The FIR alleged that the legislator illegally obtaining approval for the construction of a five-star hotel on a plot reserved for a garden. It is alleged that this deal caused a huge loss to the BMC.

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