INS Vikrant case: Kirit Somaiya deposited cash with BJP, claims Sanjay Raut

By PTI

MUMBAI: BJP chief Kirit Somaiya has stated that he deposited cash collected through the ‘Save INS Vikrant’ initiative along with his get together and therefore, the federal government must resolve whether or not that get together needs to be made a co-accused within the “scam”, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut claimed on Monday.

Interacting with media individuals right here, Raut stated Somaiya and the latter’s son Neil will “definitely go to jail”, however the duo is holding the BJP’s hand “as the two are drowning”.

Somaiya had denied allegations of “misappropriation” of funds collected to save lots of the decommissioned naval plane service which was scrapped in November 2014.

Raut demanded the Centre to withdraw safety supplied to Somaiya whether it is feeling “ashamed” over the episode and has affection for troopers.

The Shiv Sena MP additionally claimed that Somaiya is hiding “in a BJP-ruled state, either in Gujarat or Goa”.

In a dig, Raut stated a movie titled “Bhag Somaiya Bhag” needs to be produced and requested why Somaiya was operating from regulation if he has not completed something unsuitable.

Raut’s feedback come within the wake of senior counsel Ashok Mundargi, showing for Somaiya, arguing earlier than a court docket right here that the ‘Save Vikrant’ marketing campaign was launched not solely by the BJP but additionally the Congress and the Shiv Sena, who at the moment are allies within the state’s ruling coalition.

The senior counsel submitted that the marketing campaign to save lots of the decommissioned warship was launched by the political get together to which the accused (Somaiya) belongs and therefore, what occurred with the collected funds was not his consumer’s concern.

Somaiya and his son managed to gather Rs 11,000 because it was practically not possible to mobilize Rs 57 crore through the door-to-door marketing campaign, the senior counsel submitted.

“I heard his (Somaiya’s) lawyer say that the money was deposited to his party (BJP). You sought money in the name of saving Vikrant. People gave the money because you said it will be deposited in the Raj Bhavan but you gave it to the party. I have been saying that he used the money for the election. He has committed this offence,” Raut alleged.

The Rajya Sabha MP sought BJP’s clarification on the problem. “He (Somaiya) is saying now he deposited the money to the party. Were you sleeping for 13 years then? You are saying this now to save your skin when we exposed the matter. Should the BJP also be made an accused in this case along with Somaiya? This government will have to decide,” Raut stated.

He stated Somaiya’s act was akin to “deshdroh” (treason).

Raut stated that the solutions to questions like whether or not the BJP had receipts of the cash, what it did with the fund collected and others shall be identified by a probe.

“But Somaiya has tried to sink the BJP as well. He will drown, but will also sink the BJP. Crooks like these are of nobody,” Raut stated. He charged Somaiya with garnering “hundreds of crores” by “blackmailing and threatening” folks.

“There are countless cases of his and all these cases are somewhere related to the BJP,” he alleged.

Raut additionally stated that the BJP must give an account of what it did with the cash Somaiya allegedly deposited with it.

The Shiv Sena chief stated it was “unfortunate” that “a blackmailer” like Somaiya was supplied safety by the Centre.

“Security of the absconding man, who engaged in a scam involving INS Vikrant, must be withdrawn if the Centre is feeling ashamed and has affection towards our soldiers,” Raut stated.

He added that the Centre or Union Home Minister Amit Shah himself ought to take note of the matter and discover out the “main accused (Somaiya) in the INS Vikrant scam”.

“Somaiya should be arrested and handed over to the Mumbai Police. I know where he is, I will inform the probe agencies,” Raut added.

Raut additionally tweeted in Hindi saying that the Somaiyas will go to jail and shall be lodged in a cell subsequent to that of NCP leaders like Anil Deshmukh and Nawab Malik, who have been jailed following actions by central businesses in separate circumstances.

Earlier within the day, Raut had demanded issuing a lookout discover within the title of the Somaiya senior and his son, contending the duo might flee the nation.

The Shiv Sena chief has been accusing Somaiyas of misappropriation of over Rs 57 crore collected within the title of saving the ship.

The Mumbai Police final week registered a case of dishonest towards the Somaiyas based mostly on a grievance lodged by a former Army personnel.

On Monday, a court docket in Mumbai rejected the anticipatory bail software of Kirit Somaiya within the case. The court docket is more likely to move an order on Neil Somaiya’s anticipatory bail software (ABA) on Tuesday.