MUMBAI, Feb. 19 -- A Special Court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Mumbai on Tuesday allowed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to record the statement of Praful Lodha-an alleged political aide of a senior BJP leader-who is currently in judicial custody in connection with multiple criminal cases, including rape, and is named in a money-laundering investigation regarding acquisition of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. In a detailed order, additional sessions judge R B Rote noted that the ED had registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in September 2025, stating that Lodha "purchased immovable properties in the last three to four years out of the proceeds of crime" and that "the total value of these properties was not commensurate with the income shown in his income-tax return". The court quoted the agency's submission that Lodha had declared an income of only "Rs.1,164 in the financial year 2023-24". Lodha, a 62-year-old businessman from Jamner in Jalgaon district, is considered a close associate of Maharashtra's minister of water resources Girish Mahajan. The BJP leader represents Lodha's home region, and opposition leaders have alleged that Lodha once had political proximity to Mahajan and was involved in controversial activities, including an alleged "honey-trap operation" that has been the subject of political allegations in Maharashtra. These claims, however, have neither been proven in court nor formally admitted by the BJP. While Lodha is already in custody in separate FIRs registered at Pune and Mumbai police stations-including offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act-the ED sought his custodial examination under Sections 50(2) and 50(3) of the PMLA. These sections allow an investigating agency to summon a person and record their statement on oath and require production of documents relevant to an investigation. The court noted that Lodha was lodged in Arthur Road Jail and that "the ED has requested that the statement be recorded in the said jail premises". It directed the jail authorities to allow ED officers to record the statement between February 19 and February 27....