Mumbai: Sanjay Raut, a trusted lieutenant of Uddhav Thackeray, walked out of Arthur Road jail on Wednesday evening about 100 days after being arrested in a money-laundering case.
A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court granted bail to the Rajya Sabha MP belonging to Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction along with his associate and co-accused Pravin Raut in the case pertaining to Patra Chawl redevelopment project.
In a setback to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the court rejected the agency’s plea urging it not to give effect to the bail order till Friday.
Also Read: Land Scam Case: Now, ED Summons Arrested Sanjay Raut’s Wife Varsha
The ED then approached Bombay High Court, which refused to grant an urgent stay on the bail. The court posted the matter for hearing on Thursday.
Hundreds of Shiv Sainiks gathered outside the jail to greet their leader as Raut walked out. They burst firecrackers and smeared each other with ‘gulal’.
“I am happy. We had faith in the judiciary… It has increased further,” said Raut, who was arrested by ED on July 31.
There were crowds outside the residences of Raut in Bhandup and Uddhav in Bandra.
