Latest news with #MSCB
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Rohit Pawar says he's being targeted while others named in MSCB FIR spared
NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar on Saturday alleged that he is being selectively targeted by central agencies despite 97 individuals being named in the original FIR related to the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) case. He said he would fight the case in court and was confident of emerging clean. 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. (HT) 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.'
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Rohit Pawar says he's being targeted in MSCB case
PUNE: NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar on Saturday alleged that he is being selectively targeted by central agencies despite 97 individuals being named in the original FIR related to the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) case. He said he would fight the case in court and was confident of emerging clean. Rohit Pawar says he's being targeted in MSCB case 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.'
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Political vendetta, says Rohit Pawar on chargesheet
Pune: NCP (SP) MLA and Sharad Pawar's grandnephew Rohit Pawar termed the inclusion of his name in the Enforcement Directorate's chargesheet in the alleged Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scam as "vendetta politics" by the govt and said he was ready for the legal battle. The ED filed the chargesheet naming Rohit in connection with the purchase of Kannad cooperative sugar factory in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar by Baramati Agro Ltd, owned by Rohit and his family members, through an auction. Before naming the Karjat-Jamkhed MLA in the chargesheet, the ED recorded his statement in the past. In the alleged MSCB scam, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai police had registered an FIR in August 2019 on the charges of fraudulent sale of the sugar factory by the directors of MSCB then at a throwaway price. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The EOW has filed a second closure report in the case, which ED has challenged in court through an intervention application. The EOW had previously given a clean chit to all involved parties, including NCP leader Ajit Pawar and his nephew Rohit. Dy CM Ajit Pawar serves as the ruling alliance partner, while Rohit is in opposition. The 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like So sánh mức trượt giá: Hợp đồng tương lai (CFD) Bitcoin vs Ethereum IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The court has not yet reached a decision. Reacting to the ED's action, Rohit Pawar on Saturday said, "The FIR of this case does not have my name, but the ED kept all the 97 people named in the FIR aside and started a probe against me. Now, it has also mentioned my name in the chargesheet." He said, "Out of those 97 people named in the FIR, some are associated with the BJP or the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. I am being singled out by the ED. This is nothing but vendetta politics." After filing of the chargesheet, Rohit said he was ready for the legal battle and would not succumb to pressure. "Others may have run to join govt, but I will hold my ground and fight it in the court of law. I am one of the few MLAs raising public issues in the assembly, and the govt is using Central agencies to silence me. I will not bow before Delhi," he said.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
I have done no wrong, being targeted politically: Rohit Pawar on being named accused in MSCB 'scam'
After the Enforcement Directorate (ED) named him as an accused in the alleged Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scam, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar on Saturday claimed he has not done anything wrong and that he was being targeted with political motives. Pawar said he was being singled out despite 97 others being named in the FIR, and added that since the matter is now in the court, he will fight out the case legally and win it. The ED named Pawar, who represents the Karjat-Jamkhed assembly constituency in Ahilyanagar district, as an accused in the chargesheet, submitted in a special court in Mumbai recently, in the alleged MSCB scam . by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Top 25 Most Beautiful Women In The World Articles Vally Undo The MSCB money laundering case stems from an August 2019 FIR of the Mumbai police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW), alleging fraudulent sale of SSKs (Sahakari Sakhar Kharkhana or cooperative sugar mills) by the then officers and directors of the MSCB at throwaway prices to their relatives/private persons without following the due procedure. The Kannad SSK in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar was purchased by Baramati Agro Ltd, which is a company of Pawar. Live Events The probe agency has alleged that MSCB, in order to recover an outstanding loan of Rs 80.56 crore of Kannad SSK Limited took possession of all its assets on July 13, 2009 under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act. The MSCB then conducted an auction on August 30, 2012 of Kannad SSK by fixing a "very low" reserve price based on a questionable valuation report. Apart from Baramati Agro, two other parties entered the bidding process. The bidder with the highest bid was technically disqualified on flimsy grounds, whereas the other bidder was already a close business associate of Baramati Agro with no financial capacity or experience of running a sugar unit, the ED said. Talking to reporters here, Pawar said, "When the ED registered the FIR, it named 97 individuals, including some political leaders. My name was not there. Before Baramati Agro purchased the sugar mill, the unit was under an administrator's control as there was no properly elected board of directors. It was the administrator who floated the tender, which Baramati Agro later secured through due process." During the probe, the ED kept all 97 people aside and started a probe against him, he added. "In 2024, I was called to the ED office twice for questioning. I was questioned for 12 hours, I gave all the information to ED officers. They probed everything. They even visited the mill. Though the ED has taken the symbolic possession of the mill, it is still run by me. No farmer will face any issue," he said. Of the 97 persons named in the FIR, many are now associated with the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena or Ajit Pawar's NCP, he claimed. "There is an attempt to single me out and take action against me by ED. This looks political but I will fight this battle and win it," he said. When asked why he believes he was targeted, Pawar said, "If you observe, I am the only one who is actively raising voice against the government in the current monsoon session of the legislature." Now that the chargesheet has been filed, the matter lies in the judiciary's hands, he said. "We were waiting for the chargesheet to be filed. Now that it has been filed, we trust the judicial process and are confident of getting justice. I am absolutely convinced that I have done nothing wrong. I am not afraid. We are not among those who run away. We will fight this battle. We are Marathi people - we do not bow before Delhi," he asserted. Calling it a battle of ideology, Pawar said, "Others may have run away, but I will stand and fight till the end."
NDTV
4 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
ED Files Supplementary Chargesheet Against Rohit Pawar In Bank Scam Case
Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a supplementary chargesheet against NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar in the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scam case. The chargesheet, filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, names Mr Pawar along with his associates. The court is yet to take cognizance of the document. This development comes months after the ED provisionally attached assets worth over Rs 50 crore belonging to Mr Pawar's company, Baramati Agro. The agency said these assets - which include land in Kannad (Aurangabad), a sugar mill, machinery, and buildings - were acquired through an irregular auction process linked to the defunct Kannad Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd (Kannad SSK). The ED alleged the assets are "proceeds of crime" and that Baramati Agro benefited from undervalued auctions enabled by violations of standard procedures. The investigation began after a 2019 FIR filed by the Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing, which alleged that MSCB officials and directors had sold several cooperative sugar factories to private entities and relatives at throwaway prices, sidestepping established norms. The agency has so far attached properties worth Rs 121.47 crore in the case. Rohit Pawar Responds Responding to the development, Mr Pawar issued a public statement suggesting that the ED's action was politically motivated. Without naming anyone, he hinted at pressure from certain quarters. "Everyone knows that the action taken against me by the ED was because I didn't listen to certain people - there's no need to elaborate further," Mr Pawar said in a post. He said officers of the Enforcement Directorate were merely following orders and that now, with the chargesheet filed, the matter has shifted to the judiciary. "The ball is now in the judiciary's court, a decision we've long been waiting for. I have full faith in the judiciary, and I believe the truth will come out - the milk will be separated from water." Mr Pawar maintained that he is prepared for any struggle required to uphold his beliefs, invoking Maharashtra's tradition of resistance. "Maharashtra has never given space to subservience or betrayal - it has always embraced struggle. That is our history."
