Rohit Pawar says he's being targeted while others named in MSCB FIR spared
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has recently named Rohit Pawar as an accused in its supplementary chargesheet filed in a special court in Mumbai in the alleged MSCB scam. Pawar, who represents the Karjat-Jamkhed assembly constituency in Ahilyanagar district, said the move was politically motivated and aimed at silencing his criticism of the current government.
The ED's case is based on a 2019 FIR by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police, which alleged that sugar mills were sold at undervalued prices to private parties with political links. One such mill, Kannad Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, was acquired by Baramati Agro Ltd, a company linked to Rohit Pawar.
The agency has alleged that the MSCB took possession of the mill's assets in 2009 to recover dues of ₹80.56 crore under the SARFAESI Act. In 2012, the bank conducted an auction allegedly based on a flawed valuation. Although three entities participated, ED claims the top bidder was disqualified on weak grounds while the remaining bidder was financially incapable and linked to Baramati Agro.
Responding to the allegations, Pawar said, 'When the FIR was filed, 97 names were mentioned, including several political leaders. My name wasn't among them. At the time of the auction, the mill was under an administrator, not a board of directors. Baramati Agro followed due process to win the tender floated by the administrator.'
He added that the ED questioned him for 12 hours over two sessions in 2024 and also inspected the sugar mill. 'They verified all records. Although the ED has taken symbolic possession, I continue to run the mill. Farmers won't face any problems,' he said.
Pawar pointed out that many others named in the FIR have since joined the BJP, the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), or the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, and yet action is being taken only against him. 'This appears politically driven. I've been vocal in the ongoing monsoon session and that could be the reason I'm being targeted,' he said.
Now that the chargesheet has been filed, Pawar said the matter will be fought legally. 'We have full faith in the judiciary and believe justice will prevail. I have done no wrong and I will not back down. We are Marathi people—we don't bow before Delhi,' he said.
Calling the case a battle of ideology, he added, 'Many may have chosen to run. I will stay and fight until the end.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
25 minutes ago
- NDTV
Probe Agency ED Arrests 2 In Money-Laundering Case Against Sahara Group
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Sunday said it has arrested two persons, an executive director of Sahara Group chairman's core management team and a long-time associate of the group cum property broker, as part of a money-laundering probe against the Sahara Group and its linked entities. The individuals taken into custody have been identified as Vailaparampil Abraham and Jitendra Prasad Verma, respectively. Abraham played a "key role" in coordinating and facilitating the sale of Sahara Group properties, many of which involved "substantial unaccounted" cash components that were allegedly siphoned off. Verma was "actively involved" in executing several of these property transactions and knowingly assisted in routing large "cash" proceeds generated from these sale transactions, thereby contributing to the concealment and dissipation of the "proceeds of crime", the central agency said in a statement. The ED said it came across "incriminating" evidence, during searches conducted in this case recently, which suggested that the properties of Sahara Group were being disposed off one by one in a "clandestine" manner. Abraham and Verma played a "key role" in disposal of such properties and assisting the promoters of Sahara Group in siphoning off the funds, it alleged. The promoters were found to be involved in such malpractices while remaining outside India, the agency claimed. The two arrested persons were produced before a local court in Kolkata on Saturday and the court remanded them to ED custody till July 14, the agency said. The money-laundering case stems from more than 500 FIRs filed by various state police departments. Three FIRs registered against Humara India Credit Cooperative Society Ltd (HICCSL) and others by Odisha, Bihar and Rajasthan police apart from more than 500 such complaints filed against Sahara Group entities and related persons have been analysed by the ED before filing a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The agency alleged that the Sahara Group was running a "Ponzi" scheme through various entities such as HICCSL, Sahara Credit Cooperative Society Limited (SCCSL), Saharayn Universal Multipurpose Cooperative Society (SUMCS), Stars Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited (SMCSL), Sahara India Commercial Corporation Ltd (SICCL), Sahara India Real Estate Corporation Ltd (SIRECL), Sahara Housing Investment Corporation Ltd (SHICL) and other group entities. "These funds were managed in an unregulated manner without depositor oversight and maturity proceeds were not repaid instead reinvested under coercion or misrepresentation, and books were manipulated to camouflage such non-repayments. "Despite financial incapacity, the group continued to collect fresh deposits, part of which was siphoned off for benami assets and personal expenses. Assets of the group were also sold for partial cash payments, further denying rightful claims of depositors," the ED said. Earlier this year, the ED attached 707 acres land worth Rs 1,460 crore in the Aamby Valley in Maharashtra and 1,023 acres of land worth Rs 1,538 crore in Sahara Prime City Ltd.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Auto driver who'd refused to speak Marathi beaten up
Vasai: Days after a video showing an autorickshaw driver's refusal to converse in Marathi had gone viral, the driver was traced and assaulted by a group of men, allegedly from Shiv Sena (UBT), Saturday afternoon. A case of rioting has been filed against at least eight people. The rickshaw driver, Raju Patwa who plies his vehicle from Virar (east) autorickshaw stand, had in the viral video defiantly said that he would speak only Bhojpuri and Hindi, and would not speak Marathi. The video went viral the day Maharashtra Navnirman Sena was to hold a rally in Mira Road last week. On Saturday, not only was the autorickshaw driver assaulted but he was also forced to apologise to a passenger to whom he had refused to speak Marathi. In a fresh video of Saturday, the rickshaw driver is seen apologising for his act, hands joined, while a group of men rain blows on him. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Last week, the passenger, identified only as Bhavesh, was on his way to Virar station to drop off a relative when an autorickshaw brushed past him. Bhavesh told the driver in Marathi to be careful. The rickshaw driver responded in Hindi, saying he would "not speak Marathi" but would converse only in Hindi. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tại sao CFD tiền mã hóa có thể phù hợp với danh mục đầu tư của bạn IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Shiv Sena (UBT) neta from Vasai Virar, Uday Jadhav, who allegedly led the assault with his men, said that they had been scouting for the autorickshaw driver over the past week since the video had gone viral. "He has disrespected Marathi language [in the video]. We have now taught him a lesson... Anyone who disrespects the Marathi language will be taught a lesson in this manner. Senior inspector of Virar police station, Lalu Tare, said eight or nine have been booked for rioting and assault.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Bhujbal: Ladki a strain on govt, have to raise taxes
Pune: Acknowledging that the Ladki Bahin scheme has increased the financial burden on the state govt and restricted the expenditure on other schemes and initiatives, NCP minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Sunday hinted at a tax increase "to balance the situation". The claim came a day after another NCP minister, Dattatray Bharne, said the scheme had delayed funds for several development works. "Govt expenses are increasing... There is a need to raise revenue as well. Considering the increased expenses from last year (after the launch of Ladki Bahin), we have to raise taxes. Only then will revenue go up and schemes like this or Shiv bhojan can be run," Bhujbal said in Nashik. Asked if the Ladki Bahin scheme had specifically hit the treasury, he said, "It is 100% true and there is nothing to hide. When govt needs to set aside Rs 45,000 crore for a single scheme, it is obvious it will affect other sectors. " On Saturday, Bharne had voiced similar concerns. "There has been a delay in receiving funds for development works due to Ladki Bahin scheme," he said in Indapur. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai NCP chief and finance minister Ajit Pawar said he will verify Bharne's claim and ascertain "what his expectation and intention" were. Many cabinet ministers, including from Sena and NCP, had earlier claimedfunds were being diverted from other departments to pay Ladki Bahin's beneficiaries.
