The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sent a notice to senior Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Transport Minister Anil Parab.
Parab has been issued summons to appear before the ED on August 31, ostensibly in connection with the ongoing probe into the corruption allegations levelled by dismissed former Mumbai cop Sachin Vaze.
Anil Parab, 56, is a three-time Shiv Sena legislator in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, the upper house of the state legislature. He is an advocate by profession and is known for his loyalty to the Thackerays. Parab was inducted into the state cabinet by Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray in December 2019. Apart from the portfolio, Parab handles the legal issues of the party and plays a crucial role in the civic elections. Over the years, Parab has emerged as the troubleshooter for Shiv Sena and has been attacking the BJP over several issues.
Confirming the development, Parab said that he received the ED notice but it has only sought his appearance on Tuesday.
He further went on to add that, "There is no reference to any case matter... I shall take legal opinion and do the needful."
The summons came days after a viral video clip surfaced in which Parab can be seen ordering police officers to arrest Union Minister Narayan Rane.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut reacting to this summons gave his 'Congratulation' for the ED's anticipated action and said the chronology of events should be considered.
He said, "Shabbaas! As expected, as soon as the 'Jan Ashirwad Yatra' (of Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane) ended, Anil Parab has been served an ED notice. The government above (Centre) has got down to work."
Hinting at the Bharatiya Janata Party's role, he said "epicenter of the earthquake is in Ratnagiri" - the Konkan district of which Parab is the Guardian Minister - but said Sena would fight the legal matter as per the laws.
The ED move comes in the wake of demands by the BJP in the past four months demanding action for the corruption allegations levelled against Parab by the sacked cop Vaze.
Maharashtra BJP MLA Ashish Shelar had also accused Parab of the brief arrest of Union Minister Narayan Rane and demanded a CBI inquiry into the arrest and the entire procedure of action.
However, Leader of Opposition in the Council, Pravin Darekar denied Raut's contentions and said the ED notice cannot be linked with the recent political upheavals witnessed during Rane's 'Yatra' since it may have been triggered due to some complaint lodged with the central probe agency.
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