Mumbai: Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, recognized for setting the day’s information agenda together with his acerbically penned Saamana editorials and each day morning press conferences, is now writing a e-book on his incarceration.
Sunil Raut, Sanjay Raut’s brother and his solely customer in jail, advised ThePrint that the Shiv Sena chief is writing his memoir and that he plans to pen down each element.
“He’s penning down his experiences of jail and is writing concerning the Enforcement Directorate [ED] arrest until his launch,” he mentioned, including that the Sena chief will get the memoir printed within the type of a e-book instantly after his launch.
Sanjay Raut was arrested by the ED on 1 August in a cash laundering case linked to alleged monetary irregularities within the redevelopment of the Patra Chawl in suburban Goregaon, Mumbai.
Aside from writing, Raut has additionally immersed himself in studying about politics and historical past. A member of the Shiv Sena for the previous 33 years, he has additionally spent 32 years in editorial positions in Saamana, the celebration’s mouthpiece.
Naturally, his brother is keen on books and an avid reader, mentioned Sunil, including that he at the moment has about 60-70 books with him in jail and not too long ago requested for some books on the late socialist chief George Fernandes.
“He principally has political books and books on historical past that he’s studying proper now,” mentioned Sunil.
Additionally Learn: India is seeing crorepati cult in politics. Bengali bhadralok, Marathi manoos no bar
ED probe
The ED is probing the Patra Chawl redevelopment case the place over Rs 1,000 crore was allegedly laundered. It has accused Raut of utilising proceeds price Rs 3.27 crore, obtained via Pravin Raut, the first accused, from the sale of the Flooring House Index (FSI) of the land in Goregaon, the place the mission was to be developed.
The ED filed a supplementary cost sheet towards Sanjay Raut final month the place it said that he performed a significant function within the offence via his “proxy and confidant” Pravin Raut and “working behind the scenes” to keep away from leaving a path.
On 4 October, a particular court docket once more denied Raut bail and prolonged his custody until 10 October.
A day in Raut’s life in jail
Lodged at Barrack No. 12 in Arthur Street Jail, a 15 ft by 20 ft house, Raut is normally up early within the morning. He buys his breakfast on the canteen, however the remainder of his meals come from residence for the reason that court docket has allowed him to have selfmade meals and medicines, so long as the meat and fish dishes delivered are boneless, mentioned Sunil.
Allowed to satisfy solely as soon as every week, Sunil visits his elder brother each Friday. His lawyer, who’s allowed to satisfy him twice each week, goes on Mondays and Thursdays.
“I’m the one member of the family who meets him contained in the jail…. We converse on the intercom. So far as different leaders are involved, they meet him in the event that they want to throughout court docket proceedings. Even his spouse and daughter meet him in court docket solely,” knowledgeable Raut.
Sanjay Raut, mentioned Sunil, all the time says that the nation’s situation at the moment is the way it was pre-independence and that these freedom fighters who voiced their opinions had been put behind bars.
“BJP president J.P. Nadda says that no regional celebration ought to stay. That is like an undeclared Emergency and Sanjay has persistently raised his voice towards this,” mentioned Sunil.
“Not simply us, however your entire Maharashtra is ready for his launch. He was one of many only a few individuals who dared to talk towards the BJP. His oratory expertise are unmatched. By way of orating, there was just one Balasaheb Thackeray, one Indira Gandhi, and now one Sanjay Raut,” mentioned the Shiv Sena MLA.
Members of Thackeray household have up to now not met Raut in jail. In September, Uddhav Thackeray had sought permission from jail authorities to satisfy Raut within the jailer’s room however was refused and requested to hunt the court docket’s permission as a substitute.
Nonetheless well-liked
Regardless of his time in jail — over 60 days now — Raut’s significance within the Shiv Sena has not diminished.
In 2019, it was Sanjay Raut who had taken the initiative together with Nationalist Congress Occasion (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar to type the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) authorities and supported Uddhav’s resolution to interrupt ties with old-time ally Bharatiya Janata Occasion (BJP).
Throughout the celebration handle final month, Uddhav talked about Sanjay Raut and his loyalty and stored a chair vacant for him on the dais. Then, on the Dussehra rally, a chair for him was left vacant once more. Throughout Navratri, Rashmi Thackeray, spouse of Uddhav, visited Raut’s home for darshan.
“He’s a loyal Shiv Sainik and didn’t kneel earlier than the BJP. Therefore his contribution is remembered. Due to his shut relations with Uddhav Thackeray, and in order that Maharashtra doesn’t overlook him, his chair was stored empty at each rallies,” mentioned Sunil.
The Sena MLA additionally advised ThePrint that Sanjay Raut doesn’t meet his MVA colleague and former residence minister Anil Deshmukh who can also be lodged in Barrack No. 12. “He’s not allowed to satisfy anybody else,” he mentioned.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
Additionally Learn: After 14 years, ED case & Raut arrest, work lastly underway on Mumbai’s Patra Chawl mission