MUMBAI: ED recently filed a chargesheet against NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar in a money laundering case connected to the Rs 25,000-crore Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scam. This despite the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police filing a second closure report in the case, which ED has challenged in court through an intervention application.
EOW had previously given a clean chit to all involved parties, including NCP neta Ajit Pawar and his nephew Rohit. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar serves as the governing alliance partner, while Rohit remains in opposition.
In 2023, ED had filed a chargesheet against Jarandeshwar Sugar Mills, which is linked to Ajit Pawar in the MSCB scam for the similar offence. Although the chargesheet mentioned Ajit Pawar's connection to the company, he was not named as an accused.
Rohit said: "EOW itself for the second time had filed a closure report. I'm not even named as an accused there, yet ED misuses it to selectively target me while absolving those who joined BJP. This is a legal anomaly apart from being politically motivated, and we will fight it. The ED officers are not at fault as they have to report to someone and need to obey orders given by someone at top."
ED had submitted the intervention application in court last year, challenging the closure report on the grounds that it would adversely affect their case as it was based on the EOW's FIR.
Meanwhile, ED has proceeded to file a chargesheet against Rohit concerning the purchase of Kannad Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd through an auction by his company, Baramati Agro Ltd. Last year, ED had recorded Rohit's statement in the case and later attached the assets of Kannad Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd valued at Rs 50 crore.
EOW had previously given a clean chit to all involved parties, including NCP neta Ajit Pawar and his nephew Rohit. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar serves as the governing alliance partner, while Rohit remains in opposition.
In 2023, ED had filed a chargesheet against Jarandeshwar Sugar Mills, which is linked to Ajit Pawar in the MSCB scam for the similar offence. Although the chargesheet mentioned Ajit Pawar's connection to the company, he was not named as an accused.
Rohit said: "EOW itself for the second time had filed a closure report. I'm not even named as an accused there, yet ED misuses it to selectively target me while absolving those who joined BJP. This is a legal anomaly apart from being politically motivated, and we will fight it. The ED officers are not at fault as they have to report to someone and need to obey orders given by someone at top."
ED had submitted the intervention application in court last year, challenging the closure report on the grounds that it would adversely affect their case as it was based on the EOW's FIR.
Meanwhile, ED has proceeded to file a chargesheet against Rohit concerning the purchase of Kannad Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd through an auction by his company, Baramati Agro Ltd. Last year, ED had recorded Rohit's statement in the case and later attached the assets of Kannad Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd valued at Rs 50 crore.
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