ED Summons Alleged Aide of Shiv Sena Leader in Money Laundering Case

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has summoned Dinesh Bobhate, an alleged aide of Shiv Sena (UBT) faction leader Anil Desai, in connection with a money laundering case, officials stated on Tuesday. Bobhate has been directed to appear before the ED this week.

Last December, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a case of disproportionate assets against Bobhate, who serves as a senior assistant at New India Assurance Company, and his wife. The ED subsequently launched a money laundering investigation into Bobhate based on the CBI’s corruption case, which alleges that Bobhate and his wife acquired disproportionate assets.

Earlier on March 3, Anil Desai, a leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), was summoned by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai police. Desai complied with the summons and appeared for questioning on March 5. This questioning was related to allegations from the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) faction that the Uddhav Thackeray faction continued to withdraw party funds despite the Election Commission recognizing the Shinde faction as the legitimate Shiv Sena, as stated by the Mumbai police.

The Shiv Sena experienced a split in June of the previous year when Eknath Shinde, who was a minister in the Uddhav Thackeray cabinet at the time, orchestrated a coup within the party and forged an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), securing the Chief Minister’s position for himself.

The EOW is currently investigating the specifics of the fund withdrawals and identifying the individuals responsible for them. The agency has also obtained details of the withdrawals from the relevant bank officer.