Mumbai: SIT probing Sanjay Raut's extortion charges against ED disbanded

The Bombay high court was informed on Wednesday that the Mumbai police has disbanded the Special Investigation Team (SIT), that was constituted to probe the allegations made by Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut against Enforcement Directorate officers that they extorted money from builders through Colaba-based businessman Jitendra Navlani.

On Wednesday, a bench headed by Justice Nitin Jamdar extended the interim stay on any probe by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) that could be initiated against ED officials in relation to the investigation against Navlani. ED had sought that the probe be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation alleging it was being targeted as it has registered cases against senior politicians in money laundering cases.

Raut, in March, had alleged that Navlani and some ED officials were running an ‘extortion racket’ and demanding money from builders by offering them “protection from ED inquiries”. He had alleged that between 2015 and 2021, Navlani had collected Rs 58.96 crore on behalf of ED officials and the money had been taken in the name of consultancy fees or in the name of unsecured loans.

The ACB had lodged a case against Navlani and unknown persons under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act. The ED had filed a petition in the HC alleging that its officers could be targeted. Also, the case was registered under the PC Act against Navlani, who is not a public servant.

In the interim, an SIT was formed to probe allegations against Navlani and unknown ED officers. The same was disbanded on Tuesday.

Published on: Thursday, July 07, 2022, 12:34 PM IST