Thane, August 19: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Monday called for a bandh in Thane on August 22. The bandh has been called hours after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoned MNS chief Raj Thackeray to appear before it in connection with money laundering case on Thursday. Raj Thackeray Meets Mamata Banerjee, Invites Her For 'Morcha Against EVM' in Mumbai.

Avinash Jadhav, MNS’ Thane chief, told Mirror Online, “We oppose ED’s move of summoning Raj Sahab in an 11-year-old case. We also want to to know that why this issue has come up suddenly after so many years.” Jadhav alleged that the government is playing politics of intimidation as Thackeray was quiet vocal regarding bringing back paper ballot instead of electronic voting machines for the upcoming Assembly polls.

However, senior BJP leader and Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan refuted the MNS' charges, saying Thackeray need not worry if he has not done anything wrong. Mahajan also said his party has no say in the ED's functioning. Mumbai Man Assaulted by MNS Workers For Making Derogatory Comments Against Raj Thackeray.

The agency is probing Thackeray's involvement in the case in connection with the IL&FS group's loan equity investment in a company called Kohinoor CTNL. The company was promoted by Unmesh Joshi, son of former CM of Maharashtra Manohar Joshi, and is constructing the Kohinoor Square towers in Mumbai.

Meanwhile, Unmesh deposed before the central agency here on Monday, and his statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), officials said. Thackeray and Unmesh had jointly bid for some assets after creating a consortium, but later the MNS chief quit.

IL&FS invested over Rs 200 crore funds in Kohinoor CTNL and is said to have suffered a loss in the deal. The ED last week filed its first charge sheet before a special court in Mumbai in the case and attached assets worth about Rs 570 crore.

(With inputs from PTI)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 19, 2019 08:21 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).