ED arrests Vihang Sarnaik, son of Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik in money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday arrested Vihang Sarnaik, son of Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik, in an alleged money laundering case.

The arrest took place after the ED conducted raids at 10 premises linked to Mr. Sarnaik, including his residence at Thane in the morning.

The searches are being conducted on the Tops group, its promoters and related people, including some politicians.

Sarnaik had earlier criticised Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut and Republic TV Chief Editor Arnab Goswami. He had been in the news for moving a breach of privilege motion in the Maharashtra Assembly in September against Arnab Goswami, Republic TV editor in chief. 

He had demanded action against Ranaut when she equated Mumbai with "Pakistan Occupied Kashmir" and also the reopening of the Anvay Naik and his mother's suicide case in which Goswami had been arrested earlier this month.

Sarnaik, 56, is a three-time MLA from Ovala-Majiwada constituency in Thane, and is the Chairman of Vihang Group of Companies with interests in varied sectors.

The ruling Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for using Central agencies to pressurize the MVA government and demoralize its leaders.

Maharashtra: Enforcement Directorate officials detain Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik's son Vihang Sarnaik (in blue shirt) from their residence in Thane. https://t.co/Wd3RqIPi68pic.twitter.com/YQQE2sRPDu

— ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2020