Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday claimed that the central investigative agencies are acting like “pets of the Centre” and the court’s decision to grant bail to Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut in the money laundering case was like a guide for the country. Addressing reporters at his residence ‘Matoshree’ in Mumbai’s Bandra area, Uddhav Thackeray said that Raut may be implicated again in a false case.
Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut, after meeting Uddhav at his residence, said he was confident that Thackeray and the party would stand by his family in his absence and that he was ready to go to jail “10 more times” for the organisation. The Shiv Sena MP was released from Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail on Wednesday after getting bail from a special court here.
The court had termed Raut’s arrest as “illegal” and an act of “targeting”. Uddhav Thackeray said, “After the order of the court, it is now very clear that the central investigative agencies are acting like the pets of the Centre. And the whole world is watching it.”
At the same time, Sanjay Raut, when asked about the decision of the Election Commission of India to ban the name and symbol of Shiv Sena, said, “An attempt is being made to ban the Constitution.” People like us are arrested illegally which is like a ban on the Constitution.”
Uddhav Thackeray claimed that splits were made into several parties and illegal arrests were made using central agencies. He said Raut’s case was an example for those who “run away” from the party. Thackeray said, “If no one has done anything wrong then there is nothing to fear. This is also a lesson for those who left the party and ran away. Fair judgment by the judiciary is a good sign and tomorrow’s order is a guide.”
Uddhav Thackeray said that the unbridled rulers have no idea that what will happen if all these forces come together? He said that central agencies are being misused. Political organizations like Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Telangana Rashtra Samithi, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, and Trinamool Congress are also being targeted. He said that not all days are the same, situations change.