Updated: November 25, 2020 12:05:38 pm
Pratap Sarnaik
It was Pratap Sarnaik’s decision to present his former boss, Ajit Pawar of NCP, a diamond-studded cell phone, valued at Rs 15 lakh in 2008, that propelled Thane’s then-44-year-old NCP businessman to the limelight.
Sarnaik, whose residence and office were raided by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Tuesday in connection with an alleged money laundering case, used to earn his living as an autorickshaw driver in the 1980s in Thane. He then made his fortune in the real estate boom that hit the satellite city in the past two decades.
Sarnaik ended his association with the PNC over a perceived snub in the appointment of the Opposition leader at Thane Municpal Corporation, and he joined the Shiv Sena in November 2008. His political career took off after that and is now three times member of the Liberation Army. from the Ovla-Majhiwada constituency in Thane.
Sarnaik is a major player in the Thane real estate scene through its Vihang Group of Companies, which also runs hospitality businesses in and around Thane and Mumbai.
Since becoming an MLA in 2009, Sarnaik’s assets have increased by almost 800 percent, from Rs 16 crore in 2009 to Rs 143 crore in 2019 according to his election affidavit. The flamboyant politician counts Bollywood actors among his friends and is known for hosting Dahi Handi festivities in Thane on a grand scale.
In September, he was appointed party spokesman by Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray. Led by Mira Bhayander, Sarnaik played an important role in securing the entry of the Independent MLA Geeta Jain into Shiv Sena last month. Jain, a former BJP mayor from Mira Bhayander, rebelled against the BJP candidate and won the Assembly elections last year.
In recent months, Sarnaik had been outspoken against the BJP on various issues, including seeking a new investigation into the suicide of interior designer Anvay Naik, who left a note accusing Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami of already two other people from without paying their fees.
He had also filed a privilege violation motion in the state Legislative Assembly against Goswami, accusing him of using “derogatory language” and making baseless comments against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and PCN Chairman Sharad Pawar, and confronted actor Kangana Ranaut for comparing Mumbai with Pakistan he occupied Kashmir.
His eldest son Vihang, who was detained by the Emergency Department for questioning in the alleged money laundering case, is involved in the family business. His youngest son, Purvesh, is a corporate in Thane Municipal Corporation. Although Purvesh is also a secretary to Yuva Sena, Shiv Sena’s youth wing, led by Aaditya Thackeray, Vihang is a member of Yuva Sena’s core team.
Purvesh is married to Kashmira Patil, daughter of the BJP minister, Dr. Ranjit Patil, in the previous Devendra Fadnavis government.
On Tuesday evening, Sarnaik met with Shiv Sena’s MP and party spokesman Sanjay Raut at Saamana’s office. “We are not aware of the investigation by the Emergency Department and we are gathering information about it,” he told the media after meeting Raut.
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