The Sena MLA, led in ED raids, had also written a letter requesting the reopening of an alleged complicity in the 2018 suicide case in which Goswami was recently arrested by Mumbai police.
The Shiv Sena reacted strongly to the ED raids and called them a “political vendetta” for taking a firm stand against a “television channel” and in the architect’s suicide case. Anvay Naik.
Party MP Sanjay Raut, without naming the BJP, said he should forget the dream of coming to power in Maharashtra for the next 25 years, “no matter how much pressure you exert or spread terror through the agencies.”
“The Maharashtra government or its leaders will not give in to pressure from anyone,” he said.
Raut said Sarnaik’s properties were raided while the latter was not at home, adding that no matter how many notices are issued, only the truth will prevail in Maharashtra. Raut also said that an agency does not prohibit investigations and can take action if there is evidence.
“But you want to mentally harass people related to the (state) government. These actions will backfire on you. And I think the time is coming,” he said.
The head of the PNC, Sharad Pawar, an ally of Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, also criticized ED’s action.
Pawar launched a veiled attack on the BJP, accusing it of abusing power after realizing that the government formation in Maharashtra is eluding the main constituent of the NDA a year after the Shiv Sena-led MVA coalition took office.
Reacting to ED’s action against Sarnaik, Maharashtra’s Interior Minister Anil Deshmukh said that central agencies are being misused to target political opponents.
In recent months, a program has been running to use some important central agencies against political opponents. This also looks like that kind of action, said Deshmukh, a PNC leader.
The DE, assisted by CRPF staff, launched raids at 10 locations in Mumbai and neighboring Thane early in the morning.
Later, the central agency picked up Sarnaik’s son Vihang and took him to the DE’s office for questioning.
(With inputs from agencies)
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