Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a notice to Maharashtra Transport Minister Anil Parab. He is being summoned by the agency in connection with a money laundering investigation and is ordered to appear before the ED on Tuesday i.e. August 13.
ED’s notice came after Parab was captured on camera ordering the arrest of Union Minister Narayan Rane. The BJP said it was a "blatant misuse" of power and that legal action was being considered against him.
As the news spread, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said it was ‘expected’. He tweeted, “As expected, Anil Parab has been served a notice by the ED as soon as the Jan Ashirwad Yatra concluded. The central government has started its work. The epicentre of the earthquake was Ratnagiri (pointing at Rane’s arrest) and Parab is the Guardian Minister of that district. Please understand the chronology. This is a legal battle which we will fight legally.”
Who is state minister Anil Parab?
Parab is one of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's closest aides.
The 56 year old politician has served three terms in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, the state legislature's upper body.
A lawyer by profession, Parab manages the party's legal issues and plays a key role in the civic elections. He is well known for his aggressive political style.
Why has he been making headlines recently?
Parab was caught on camera last week instructing police officials to arrest Union Minister Narayan Rane.
On August 23, Parab was in a press conference when he took a break to take two phone calls. On his second phone call which was probably to a police official, the minister was heard demanding Rane's arrest.
During his call, he was heard saying, “Hello, what are you people doing? But you need to do it. Have you detained him or not? What order are they asking for? The High Court and sessions court have rejected his bail… then use the police force,”
Other corruption allegations
Earlier, former Mumbai Police officer Sachin Waze alleged in a letter he tried to submit to the NIA court that Anil Parab had urged him to carry out extortion to the tune of Rs 50 crore from a private trust, putting the Maharashtra minister under investigation.
He also claimed that Parab instructed him to look into the investigation into the fraudulent contractors listed in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and that he was ordered to collect “at least Rs 2 crore” from about 50 contractors.
All of the charges have been refuted by Parab.
Gajendra Patil, a suspended motor vehicle inspector of the Nashik Regional Transport Office (RTO), had also accused Parab and six other officers of corruption involving transfers and postings at the RTO.