Mumbai (The Hawk): Shiv Sena (UBT) MP described his stay in the Arthur Road Central Jail (ARCJ) as an ordeal and "not an easy" one for anyone, here on Thursday, after spending more than 101 days behind bars.
I was in solitary confinement and had no interaction with anyone or anything outside of the jail walls or myself. After more than three months, I finally put on a watch," a noticeably at ease Raut stated.
He claimed that during his time in jail, he began to wonder how other prisoners, such as Bal Gangadhar Lokmanya Tilak, Vishnu Damodar, alias Swatantraveer Savarkar, who served six years in prison, and Atal Behari Vajpayee, who served two years during the Emergency, were able to endure such lengthy sentences.
"A prison sentence is not good. I have experienced great loss, as has my family. It is unjust to throw anyone in jail without cause, remarked Raut as he made his way to a private hospital for a checkup.
But the Sena (UBT) MP using Gandhi's philosophy claimed he had no ill will against the Enforcement Director (ED) or others who plotted to put him in jail.
"I'll meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to inform them of my situation. I'll also speak with Devendra Fadnavis, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, to address matters of state, said Raut.
He reaffirmed that the administration of Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Fadnavis is "unconstitutional" and that the Deputy CM is in charge, but he also supported some of the decisions made by the new administration that was put in place in June.
Raut's comment, which caused a stir in the political community, was, "I support Fadnavis' statement on how the level of politics has become vitiated."
Later this afternoon, the Sena (UBT) MP claimed he will meet with Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar and party President and former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Regarding the Congress, Raut stated that he would join Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, which is now travelling through Maharashtra, if his health permitted.
The firebrand leader claimed that his detention was "illegal," and the Special PMLA Court agreed with him in its judgement on Wednesday.
When Raut briefly spoke with the media on Thursday, he stated, "This has sent a clear, positive message across the country... My faith in the judiciary has been enhanced."
In connection with an alleged money-laundering case arising out of the Patra Chawl redevelopment case, Raut was freed from the ARCJ after about 101 days.
Sanjay Raut and his close friend Pravin Raut were both released after Special Judge M. G. Deshpande tore into the ED's case, calling the arrest "illegal," "for no cause," "selectively targeting," etc.
(Inputs from Agencies)
