ED raids multiple locations linked to Maharashtra minister in money laundering probe

The Enforcement Directorate has raided multiple locations in Maharashtra as part of its investigation into money laundering charges against state Transport Minister Anil Parab and others linked to alleged irregularities in a land deal in coastal Dapoli area of Ratnagiri district.

The searches began in locations in Dapoli, Mumbai and Pune after the federal agency filed a fresh case under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Parab (57), is a three-time Shiv Sena legislator in the Maharashtra legislative council and is the state transport minister.

The case pertains to the purchase of a plot of land in Dapoli by Parab in 2017 for a consideration of ₹1 crore but it was registered in 2019. Some other charges are also being probed by the agency.

It is alleged that the land was subsequently sold to a Mumbai-based cable operator Sadanand Kadam in 2020 for a consideration of ₹1.10 crore. In between, a resort was built on the same land from 2017 to 2020.

An Income Tax Department investigation earlier had alleged that the construction of the resort started in 2017 and over ₹6 crore was spent in cash on construction of the resort.

Parab has been questioned by the ED in the past in another money laundering case linked to former minister Anil Deshmukh.

(With inputs from agencies)