Dapoli Resort Case: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab not named as accused in ED chargesheet

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has not named Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former cabinet minister Anil Parab as an accused in its charge sheet filed in connection with a money laundering case connected to the construction of a resort at Dapoli, in Ratnagiri district. However, the agency has made several references to him in it.

Investigating if Parab is “beneficial owner” of Sai Resort: ED

The ED said it is investigating if the politician is the “beneficial owner” of Sai Resort and one of his close friends, who is in custody, a “benamidar” as per an Income Tax department’s provisional attachment order of the property.

The ED stated that the I-T department had issued a provisional attachment order under a provision of the Prohibition of Benami Property Transaction Act dated November 23, 2022, by which the resort Sai Resort NX, Dapoli, has been provisionally attached.

“In the said order it is said that Shri Anil Parab is the beneficial owner of said resort and accused Sadanand Kadam is benamidar,” the agency said, adding that this aspect is being examined.

“As on the basis of the factual matrix in hand, it appears that he plays a crucial part under both the complaint and FIR on which the PMLA investigation is relied upon.” it stated.

ED names six accused, including Parab's arrested aide

The agency has named six people as accused: Parab’s close friend Kadam and Dapoli’s former sub-divisional officer Jayaram Deshpande (both arrested), along with architect Sanjay Kulkarni. The other three accused are government officials. Parab’s statements, recorded on different occasions by the ED, also form part of the document.

The charge sheet states that Parab utilised unaccounted cash to the tune of Rs80 lakhto purchase the land and suppress its value. Another Rs1 crore was paid by bank transfer. It said Parab, with Kadam’s help, illegally constructed the two-storey resort over the one-acre-plusproperty, along with footpaths or pathways over government land. “Therefore the land and the building standing on the land are proceeds of crime as per definition in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA),” it said.

Kadam helped Parab hide his identity as owner: ED

The ED further said that Kadam helped Parab hide his identity as owner and obtained the permission (for land use change) in the name of the earlier owner without the latter’s knowledge.

Kadam, it said, in connivance with other accused and with the help of Parab, also deceived the gram panchayat and concealed that the land falls within Coastal Regulatory Zone III (a no-development zone) and pressured the panchayat to transfer the land along with building in the name of Parab.

Earlier on Monday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had submitted a chargesheet before a special court in a money laundering case concerning a Ratnagiri resort in which it had alleged an involvement of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab.

Parab's close aid was arrested by ED

In March, the ED had arrested a ‘close aide’ of the politician - Sadanand Kadam. Thereafter, another arrest followed - of a former sub-divisional officer of Dapoli - Jayaram Deshpande. Both are still in judicial custody and the special court is hearing their bail applications. 

The ED had alleged while seeking custody of Kadam, that Parab had contacted him for purchasing a land in Ratnagiri and thereafter, Kadam had committed irregularities at the politician’s behest. The irregularities included land-use change from agricultural to non-agricultural by pressuring government officials and construction of the resort in the ecologically sensitive no-development zone that falls under the Coastal Regulatory Zone.

Property was registered in Parab's name in 2019

The agency had alleged during investigation that the proceeds of crime were to the tune of over Rs. 10 crores in the form of the one acre land at Dapoli and the illegally constructed resort. It had further alleged that in 2017, Parab had used unaccounted cash of Rs. 80 lakhs to buy the land in Ratnagiri. The property was registered in Parab’s name in 2019 and later sold to Kadam the following year.

Regarding the government official Deshpande, the agency had alleged that in 2017, he gave permission for illegal construction of the resort in eco sensitive land. This, the ED, had claimed, was under Parab’s pressure and influence.