Pratap Sarnaik Letter Bomb followup: Who is Sarnaik, What are the allegations against him?

Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Saranaik's letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has caused a stir not only in Maharashtra but also in the country's politics. Let's take a look at the Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik and the serious allegations levelled at him.

Mumbai: Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Saranaik's letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has caused a stir not only in Maharashtra but also in the country's politics. MLA Pratap Saranaik, in his letter, has accused the central investigation agency (Enforcement Directorate) of trying to implicate Shiv Sena leaders in false cases.

He further alleged that the central investigation agency is harassing not only the leaders but also their families. MLA Saranaik has written a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray requesting him to align himself with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and join hands with BJP to save the Shiv Sena leaders and MLAs from this persecution.

Who exactly is Pratap Saranaik

• Pratap Saranaik was born in 1964 in Wardha. However, his political career started from Thane.
• In 1997, he won the Thane Municipal Corporation election for the first time and became a corporator. He has been a corporator twice in a row. During this period he was associated with the Nationalist Congress Party.
• In 2008, Pratap Saranaik left the NCP and joined the Shiv Sena.
• He was elected as MLA from the Ovala-Majiwada constituency in 2009.
• He has since been elected MLA in 2014 and 2019 in a row.
• MLA Pratap Saranaik's wife Parisha Saranaik is a corporator from Thane.
• Pratap Sarnaik's eldest son Purvesh Sarnaik is the secretary of Yuvasena. He is also a corporator from Thane.
• The youngest son Vihang Sarnaik is a member of the Mumbai Cricket Association.
• Along with politics, the Sarnaik family is in the hotel and construction business.

Allegations against Pratap Saranaik

Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya had alleged that Pratap Saranaik had embezzled Rs 250 crore in the National Spot Exchange Limited (NSEL) scam. Kirit Somaiya has also alleged that Sarnaik bought land with the money of these scams. The ED had earlier raided Pratap Saranaik's house in Thane and Mumbai. Pratap Saranaik and his children have been summoned by the ED from time to time regarding these accusations and raids.