Who Is Varsha Raut? Shiv Sena Chief Sanjay Raut's Wife Involved In Land Scam

The Enforcement Directorate has attached assets amounting to Rs 11.15 crore to Varsha Raut, spouse of Rajya Sabha Member and Shiv Sena Party Chief Sanjay Raut, in the Patra Chawl Land Scam. Two others were also attached to the properties. The assets were filed by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the Patra Chawl project in Mumbai.

What is the Patra Chawl project? Housing Development and Infrastructure Ltd’s (HDIL) sister company Guruashish Constructions, was awarded the contract for the redevelopment of Patra Chawl by MHADA (Maharashtra Housing and Development Authority). The company was to develop flats for 672 tenants of Patra Chawl and about 3000 flats had to be handed to MHADA. However, the construction company apparently sold the land to private builders.

The two other individuals who are under scanner along with Varsha are businessman Pravin Raut and Sujit Patkar’s wife Swapna Patkar.

Suggested Reading: Land Scam Case: ED Says Sanjay Raut’s Wife Owns Rs 11 Crore Worth Assents

Who Is Varsha Raut?

Wife of Sanjay Raut, Varsha is a teacher by profession who teaches at a school in the Bhandup area of Mumbai. The couple got married in 1993 and have two daughters named Purvashi and Vidhita. Varsha has been away from the political limelight.

Varsha resides in Maitri bungalow in Bhandup with her husband and two kids. According to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs records, Varsha is a partner in three firms named Rauters Entertainment LLP, Sanaatan Motors Pvt Ltd and Siddhant Syscon Pvt Ltd.

The firm named Rauters Entertainment LLP is a production company where the couple and their daughters are four partners of company. Varsha debuted as a producer with their company and backed the 2019 biopic on Balasaheb Thackeray which was directed by Abhijit Panse starring Nawazuddin Siddique.

Varsha Raut partnered with Arun Bansal, Vimla Kumar and Vijay Kumar in the second firm Sanaatan Motors Pvt Ltd. Madhuri Pravin Raut and Varsha Raut partnered for the third firm, Siddhant Syscon Pvt Ltd. Apart from the two, Supriya Raju Parulekar is also a partner at the business service firm.

Varsha had taken a loan of Rs 55 lakh from Madhuri which was allegedly used to purchase a property. Sanjay Raut had mentioned that Madhuri and Varsha are friends and business partners. Varsha was also being questioned by the ED in the PMC Bank scam.