Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Ravindra Waikar.
Credit: Facebook/@Ravindra Waikar
Mumbai: In a major swoop, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out raids at half a dozen places linked to Ravindra Waikar, a close aide of Shiv Sena (UBT) head and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
The searches were conducted as part of ED’s money laundering probe into alleged irregularities in construction of a luxury five-star hotel on a civic plot in Jogeshwari which is in violation of an agreement with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Waikar was not available for comments.
“This shows the face of the government,” Thackeray said.
Thackeray's son and Worli MLA Aaditya Thackeray said: "The ED, CBI and IT are extensions of the BJP-led NDA."
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, who had flagged the issue, said: “I welcome ED action against Ravindra Waikar. Thackeray, when he was the Chief Minister, in July 2021 gave illegal permission for a 2 lakh sq ft five-star hotel at Jogeshwari on a BMC reserved for playground.”
However, Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena Chief Leader Eknath Shinde, said: “If one is clean there is nothing to be worried about.”
Waikar (64) is a four-term Corporator of BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation and three-term MLA from Jogeshwari East.
A veteran of Mumbai politics, Waikar is close to the Thackeray family - and chose to be with them after the June 2022 split in the party.
The investigations by the ED follows an FIR by the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai Police related to the construction of the hotel as it causes loss to the BMC.
The ED raids were conducted at the residence of Waikar, his family members and business associates and partners.