Sharad Pawar’s Nephew Questioned by Probe Agency for 8 Hours, Calls It ‘Politically Motivated’

GG News Bureau
Mumbai, 2nd Feb. Rohit Pawar, a leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the grandnephew of party supremo Sharad Pawar, expressed concerns about the timing of the inquiry by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged money laundering case. He alleged that there is a political motive behind the selective targeting of opposition leaders.

During a media interaction, Rohit Pawar stated, “The election is nearby, so people feel that these proceedings against opposition leaders are because of that… The probe is happening only against opposition leaders.”

He also mentioned that the ED has requested some information, which can be provided by someone from his office on February 8. He added, “I have a hint that I might be called in for questioning on February 12 or 13.”

Rohit Pawar was summoned by the ED for questioning as part of an alleged money laundering probe related to the Maharashtra State Cooperative (MSC) Bank scam case. This case involves the fraudulent disbursal of loans amounting to 25,000 crores.

Meanwhile, supporters of the NCP initiated a hunger strike demonstration outside the party headquarters in Mumbai to express their opposition to the investigations conducted by the central agency.

Earlier, on January 24, Rohit Pawar was interrogated by the ED for about 10 hours in the money laundering case and was called in for further questioning on February 1.

After the extensive questioning by the ED on January 24, Rohit Pawar criticized the central government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and emphasized that the NCP would continue to oppose and resist the government.

Regarding the MSC Bank scam, which amounts to 25,000 crores, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition was filed in the Bombay High Court by four individuals. The PIL shed light on the alleged fraudulent practices, claiming that loans were given to sugar mills without proper scrutiny. The attached sugar mills were then auctioned to bank officials and politicians.

Acting on the PIL, the Bombay High Court ordered the registration of a case. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW), under the Maharashtra government, conducted an investigation. When the EOW filed a closure report in 2020, the ED intervened and initiated its own investigation.