The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Sunday took possession of 112 plots that belonged to a firm owned by Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik in connection with the National Spot Exchange Limited (NSEL) scam worth Rs 5600 crore. The plots are located in Titwala in Maharashtra's Thane district.
The Sarnaiks firm Vihang Group reportedly laundered the proceeds of the crime for the Astha Group and, following this, 112 pots held jointly in the Gurwali area of Titwala were placed under ED's attachment.
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya on Sunday took to Twitter and wrote,"ED took possession of Shiv Sena Pratap Sarnaik's 112 Land/Properties yesterday. ED put its Board on 78.27 acres land of Vihang Astha Housing Co at Gurwali, Titwala. Sarnaik & Mohit Aggarwal diverted ₹100 crore of NSEL scam to buy these properties. I visited the site today"
Earlier Somaiya had visited the ED office and had alleged that the plots were reportedly sold by the Sarnaiks firm despite being attached to ED. When ED officials verified at the Revenue Departments Office in Kalyan, they found that the ED attachment to the 112 plots did not appear in their records. Following this, ED officials submitted details of the attachment on Saturday.
Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik, was in November 2020 summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged money laundering case related to Top Securities Group. The ED had reportedly found some evidence of suspicious transactions between the private firm, Top Securities Group and Sarnaik.