India, Sept. 23 -- A special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on Monday ordered the issuance of process against builder Pravin Raut - a close aide of Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and partner in M/s Prathamesh Developers LLP - and Jitendra Mehta, proprietor of Mehta Developers, in the Rs.1,039-crore Patra Chawl redevelopment scam.

Issuance of process is a formal step by which a court summons or directs the presence of the accused, marking the commencement of criminal proceedings against them.

In an order dated September 20, special judge Satyanarayan R Navander said prima facie evidence showed that both accused, along with their firms, played a role in the generation, diversion and laundering of illicit funds f...