Raids at premises linked to Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik, party alleges 'political vendetta'

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at 10 premises linked to Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik in Maharashtra due to a connection with a money-laundering case.

His son Vihang Sarnaik has been detained for questioning.

MLA Sarnaik had moved a privilege motion in Maharashtra assembly against Republic TV's editor-in-chief, Arnab Goswami and had sought action against Kangana Ranaut for maligning the image of the state through her tweets.

He had also written a letter seeking the re-opening of an alleged abetment to a suicide case of 2018 in which Goswami was arrested by the Mumbai police recently.

The Shiv Sena has reacted strongly to the ED raids and termed it as 'political vendetta'.

The ED had carried out a four-hour operation with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers when MLA Sarnaik was not at home.

While talking to the media, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said that the Maharashtra government or its leaders will not surrender to pressure from anyone.

"The action is definitely a political vendetta. The ED or other agencies should not work as if a branch of a political party," Raut added.

Raut also said there is no ban on probes by agencies and it can take action if there is evidence.

He further added, "But you want to mentally harass the people related to the government. These actions will backfire on you. And I think that time is nearing."

The action of the ED was slammed by National Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, an ally of Shiv Sena in Maharashtra.

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh reacted to the ED action as the misuse of central agencies to target political opponents.

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