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Maharashtra

ACB Raids Premises Linked To Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Rajan Salvi, His Family In Alleged Corruption Case

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Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) teams, totaling at least four, conducted raids on Thursday at the residence, office, and a business establishment associated with opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Rajan Salvi. The operation, led by Ratnagiri ACB officer Sushant Chavan, targeted Salvi’s home, where his brother Deepak Salvi and an associate were present.

Searches were also conducted at three locations- Salvi’s residence, his brother’s house, and a hotel.

The ACB team, consisting of approximately 20 investigators, initiated simultaneous search operations at three different locations. The alleged case revolves around ‘benami properties’ and involves wealth amounting to over Rs 3 crore, reportedly exceeding Rajan Salvi’s known sources of income by at least 118 percent, according to an official statement.

Being targeted for not switching to Shinde faction: Salvi

Slamming the raids, Rajan Salvi conveyed to the media that he was being targeted for refusing to yield to political pressures and for not shifting allegiance to the ruling Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

He mentioned that not only was his brother Deepak’s home raided, but his wife Anuja and son Shubham were also booked by the ACB. Salvi issued a warning, stating that the government would have to bear the consequences of its actions.

“You can book me in any case, arrest and jail me, but you cannot target my family members in this manner. We are being pressured, but whatever happens, even if they throw me in jail, I will not succumb. The people of the state will teach you a lesson,” Salvi vowed.

He mentioned that the party President and former Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray, gave him a call and conveyed his complete support during the ongoing crisis.

‘Arrest me, throw me in jail’: Salvi

Having been questioned by the ACB on at least five occasions previously, Rajan Salvi expressed his frustration on Wednesday, declaring that he was weary of the repeated summons and interrogations by the police agency.

He announced that, moving forward, he would not respond to any ACB summonses or participate in their office interrogations. He challenged them, stating, “Take whatever action, arrest me, throw me in jail.”

Shiv Sena cries vendetta by probe agencies

The ACB’s actions followed the arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of a close aide to SS-UBT former minister and MLA Aditya Thackeray earlier on Thursday in Mumbai.

Aditya Thackeray, Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut, MP, MLA Vaibhav Naik, former Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar, and other leaders criticised the state government for selectively targeting their party leaders through the misuse of investigative agencies.

Raut asserted that both Rajan Salvi and MP Rajan Vichare are being pursued by central agencies due to their refusal to align with the ruling Shiv Sena. He cautioned that the people of the state are closely observing the situation and will respond appropriately in the elections.

Maharashtra

ED Restitutes ₹386 Crore Worth Of Assets In Karnala Bank Fraud Case To Compensate 5 Lakh Depositors

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Mumbai: In a significant development in the Rs 560 crore Karnala Nagari Sahakari Bank fraud case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has restituted immovable assets worth Rs 386 crore to the Competent Authority appointed under the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (MPID) Act. The move is a major step towards compensating over five lakh depositors, many of whom are senior citizens and small investors, who lost their savings following the bank’s collapse.

The restituted assets, now slated for auction, were previously provisionally attached by the ED during its money laundering probe. According to officials, the properties located across Panvel and Raigad districts were acquired using funds siphoned off through bogus loans issued in gross violation of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) norms.

Fraud Rooted in Fake Loan Accounts

The investigation stems from a First Information Report (FIR) registered on February 17, 2020, by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), CID, Pune. The chargesheet alleges that the bank’sKarnala Charitable Trust former chairman, Mr. Vivekanand Shankar Patil, along with other senior officials, engaged in a criminal conspiracy to defraud the cooperative bank by creating 63 fictitious loan accounts using forged documentation. The fraud, reportedly operational since 2008, facilitated the diversion of approximately Rs 560 crore into entities controlled by Patil, including the Karnala Charitable Trust and the Karnala Sports Academy.

ED investigation revealed that the proceeds of crime were channelled through 63 fictitious accounts to disguise the fraudulent transactions. These funds were later diverted into multiple bank accounts held by entities associated with Patil and his relatives. The money was allegedly used for the construction of a sports complex, educational infrastructure, and other personal investments, while being projected as legitimate assets.

Main Accused in Judicial Custody Since 2021

Vivekanand Shankar Patil, a four-time legislator from the Raigad district and a former Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, is a prominent figure in the state’s cooperative movement. As chairman of the Karnala Nagari Sahakari Bank, Patil allegedly played a central role in orchestrating the fraud. The ED arrested him under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in 2021. Patil has remained in judicial custody since his arrest.

The immovable properties in question, including a multi-acre sports academy in Panvel and a prime land parcel in Posari, Raigad district, were attached in two phases on August 17, 2021, and October 12, 2023. A prosecution complaint in the matter was filed before the Special PMLA Court in Mumbai on August 12, 2021, and trial proceedings are currently ongoing.

Court Authorises Liquidation for Repayment

The restitution was initiated after the Reserve Bank of India-appointed liquidator filed an application under Section 8(8) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), seeking permission to auction the attached properties. The ED supported the request. Acting on the application, the Special PMLA Court, in an order dated July 22, 2025, authorised the auction of the Karnala Sports Academy and a land parcel in Posari. The proceeds from the sale will be used to compensate the bank’s depositors.

At the time of its collapse, Karnala Nagari Sahakari Bank held deposits worth ₹553 crore from over five lakh customers. Given the widespread financial damage, the ED stated it moved proactively to ensure the early handover of attached assets for liquidation and compensation.

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Maharashtra

Maharashtra Cabinet Congratulates Divya Deshmukh On Historic Women’s Chess World Cup Win

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Mumbai: The Maharashtra cabinet has passed a resolution congratulating Divya Deshmukh on being the youngest chess player to win the Women’s Chess World Cup.

The resolution was moved on Tuesday in the cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and comprising Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar and other ministers.

Divya Deshmukh, the 19-year-old player from Nagpur, became the youngest to win the Women’s World Cup on Monday as she outwitted the seasoned Koneru Humpy in the tie-breaker of an all-Indian final in Batumi, Georgia.

CM Fadnavis on Monday announced the Maharashtra government will felicitate the newly crowned Grandmaster on her stellar achievement.

“It is a moment of great joy that Nagpur and Maharashtra girl Divya Deshmukh has won the Women’s World Cup and earned the Grandmaster title as well. She is the youngest chess player to win the prestigious international title,” he said.

In a statement on Monday, Fadnavis said Divya Deshmukh has inscribed the state’s name in golden letters on the international chess board.

It was a matter of immense pride that both players in the World Cup final were Indians, he added, while also congratulating Humpy.

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Maharashtra

Maharashtra Congress Appoints 387-Member Committee Under New Chief Harshwardhan Sapkal

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Mumbai: The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has appointed a 387-member jumbo committee five months after Harshwardhan Sapkal took charge as the new state unit chief.

The new body includes a 36-member political affairs committee, 16 senior vice presidents, 38 vice presidents, five senior spokespersons, 108 general secretaries, 95 secretaries, 87 executive committee members.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala is the chairman of the political affairs committee.

Dheeraj Deshmukh, former MLA and son of late chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, has been named a senior spokesperson for the first time.

Former chief ministers Sushilkumar Shinde and Prithviraj Chavan, Mumbai Congress chief and Lok Sabha member Varsha Gaikwad, Rajya Sabha members Rajni Patil, Imran Pratapgarhi, former state presidents Nana Patole, Manikrao Thakare are members of the political affairs committee.

Presidents of 13 district units of the party have also been named.

Party sources said 40 per cent of the appointees are Other Backward Classes (OBC) and adequate representation has been given to Muslim, Adivasi, Dalit communities from each region of the state.

Fresh faces from regions from where leaders have deserted the party have been given place, the sources added.

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