Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Amit Chandole, a pal and associate of Shiv Sena MLA and spokesperson Pratap Sarnaik, in their ongoing dollars-laundering probe.
The agency had carried out searches on the premises linked with Chandole on Tuesday in Thane. This is the very first arrest in the case post the searches at areas linked to Sarnaik and a safety solutions provider, Topsgrup in Mumbai and Thane in connection with an alleged dollars laundering case.
The ED is most likely to scan the books of firms linked with the Sarnaik loved ones like the Vihang group which is into true-estate, hospitality and recreation. Under the scanner of the probe are also alleged foreign transactions by the Topsgrup. The firm’s chairman and founder Diwan Rahul Nanda had denied the allegations to FPJ on Wednesday. He also stated that he knows Pratap for quite a few years as a pal and that “he has not invested a single penny in my business or company, ever,”.
Topsgrup is getting probed for their company acquisition in the UK in 2009 and their trust in Mauritius. Nanda has stated that these have been legal. ED is most likely to summon additional persons in this regard in the close to future.