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In a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the alleged ₹25,000-crore Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank scam, the Enforcement Directorate conducted raids on several premises linked to Baramati Agro, owned by Rohit Pawar, the grand-nephew of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar.
The agency’s probe, rooted in a money-laundering investigation, targeted at least six locations associated with Baramati Agro across Baramati, Pune, Pimpri, and Aurangabad. Rohit Pawar, also serving as the CEO of the company, found his firm under scrutiny for purportedly acquiring high-value loans from the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank. Allegations suggest that these loans either remained unpaid or were diverted for other purposes.
The Enforcement Directorate’s claims assert that individuals closely affiliated with Sharad Pawar were part of the bank’s board of directors and facilitated loans, allegedly bypassing proper procedures, to Baramati Agro and several other companies. Subsequently, these loans purportedly remained outstanding.
This recent move comes in continuation of the agency’s pursuit of this case. Earlier, in 2019, the Mumbai Police had filed an FIR against Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar, and numerous others in connection with the cooperative bank scam. However, the case was closed due to insufficient evidence, a decision the Enforcement Directorate has opposed.
Moreover, the agency had seized assets linked to Jarandeshwar Sugar Mills, a company where Ajit Pawar was previously a director, as part of the investigation into the scam. Ajit Pawar’s political maneuvering, including his split from the NCP and subsequent involvement in the Maharashtra government as deputy chief minister, has added layers to the ongoing scrutiny of his familial connections.
Notably, the Enforcement Directorate’s actions coincide with its summoning of prominent opposition figures like Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav in various cases. These moves have fueled allegations from the opposition-led INDIA bloc, accusing the BJP of leveraging central agencies for political advantage, especially with the looming Lok Sabha elections on the horizon.
As investigations continue and political tensions heighten, the scrutiny surrounding the alleged Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank scam remains a focal point, casting a spotlight on familial connections within the political landscape and the broader accusations of misuse of power ahead of the impending elections.
Sources BY Agencies
