New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Friday performed raids at not less than six places linked to Baramati Agro — the agro cooperative run by Nationalist Congress Social gathering chief Sharad Pawar’s grandnephew and Karjat-Jamkhed MLA Rohit Pawar.
The raids have been performed in reference to its cash laundering investigation involving the Maharashtra State Cooperative Financial institution (MSCB) and focused websites in Baramati, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (previously Aurangabad), and Amravati, media reviews stated. The allegations stem from an August 2019 FIR.
Baramati Agro was based by Sharad Pawar’s older brother and Rohit’s grandfather Appasaheb. It’s primarily concerned within the manufacturing of animal and poultry feed, sugar and ethanol, the cogeneration of energy, and agri-commodities buying and selling.
Its registered workplace is situated in Baramati — the Pawar household bastion.
When the NCP break up in June final yr, the 38-year-old Rohit, the CEO of Baramati Agro, stayed together with his granduncle as an alternative of becoming a member of the ruling Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis authorities with uncle Ajit Pawar, who’s now a Deputy Chief Minister.
Rohit is at present overseas on a household trip. ThePrint has reached him by way of WhatsApp for a remark, and a response is awaited.
Rohit’s get together colleagues have referred to as the raids a “political vendetta” towards the chief. In a put up on X, Clyde Crasto, nationwide spokesperson of the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP, said: “So it is clear now that Rohit Pawar’s ‘Sangharsh Yatra’ has ‘Hit a Nerve’ and made the BJP insecure. But it will not deter Rohit Pawar or stop him in his tracks. He will come out stronger. (the) Justice system is supreme in our country and the truth will prevail.”
He was referring to the Yuva Sangharsh Yatra that Rohit had undertaken in December.
Additionally Learn: Pawar versus Pawar — how younger gun Rohit is taking up uncle Ajit as battle for NCP legacy continues
The case
The 2019 FIR was filed after the Bombay Excessive Court docket ordered an investigation into allegations that financial institution officers have been concerned in promoting Maharashtra’s cooperative sugar factories at throwaway costs. The court docket order got here on the again of a Public Curiosity Litigation that pegged the alleged rip-off at Rs 25,000 crore.
In October 2020, the Mumbai Police’s Financial Offences Wing filed a closure report within the case, saying there was no fraud. The ED opposed this report.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) authorities led by Uddhav Thackeray and consisting of the undivided Shiv Sena, the undivided NCP, and the Congress was in energy then.
In November 2022 — simply over 4 months after the MVA authorities fell and Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis’s Mahayuti authorities got here to energy — the EOW as soon as once more sought permission to analyze corporations linked to Rohit.
The EOW alleged that the businesses had acquired dying sugar mills by suspicious transactions.
In April 2023, the ED filed a chargesheet within the case. Nevertheless, it didn’t identify Ajit Pawar, whom it had beforehand accused of wrongdoing within the case.
The ED is wanting into Baramati Agro’s buy of a sick unit, Kannada SSK in Aurangabad, for Rs 50 crore by way of an public sale initiated by the Maharashtra State Cooperative Financial institution.
Allegations towards the corporate embody diversion of funds, and its financial institution accounts are being scrutinised.
Beneath the scanner
This isn’t the primary time Baramati Agro has confronted motion from authorities. Final September, the Maharashtra Air pollution Management Board (MPCB) issued a discover to Rohit citing a violation of air pollution management norms and asking him to shut down a part of the agency.
Two months earlier than this, the Bombay Excessive Court docket stayed proceedings launched towards the corporate based mostly on an FIR filed by BJP’s Ram Shinde, whom Rohit defeated within the 2019 meeting polls. This FIR, registered beneath Part 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code, alleged that the corporate had begun sugarcane crushing in violation of a authorities order that season.
The Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP has put its weight behind Rohit within the mild of the raids, emphasising the Opposition’s oft-repeated allegation that the Modi authorities makes use of central companies to undermine rivals.
“This is the result of standing with Pawar saheb by showing loyalty and courage. It feels bad that our own ‘homebreakers’ are involved in this. But I believe Rohit will not succumb to these pressure tactics and instead will come out stronger,” MLA Jitendra Awhad, who had a disagreement with Rohit over a controversial social media put up earlier this week, stated.
. @RRPSpeaks यांच्या बारामती ॲग्रो या कंपनीवर ED ची धाड पडल्याची बातमी समजली.पवार साहेबांच्या सोबत निष्ठेने आणि ताकदीने उभे राहण्याची हे त्याचं फळ आहे.
वाईट याचेच वाटते की,यात आपलेच “घरभेदी” सहकारी सामील आहेत.परंतु मला विश्वास आहे की,रोहित या सर्व दबावतंत्राला बळी तर पडणारच… pic.twitter.com/FAYVYKvUCt— Dr.Jitendra Awhad (@Awhadspeaks) January 5, 2024
Former Maharashtra dwelling minister Anil Deshmukh urged Rohit to “fight on ”. “Rohit, today’s struggle becomes tomorrow’s strength,” he stated.
रोहीत, आजचा संघर्ष उद्याचे सामर्थ्य तयार करत असतो. लढायचं – भिडायचं!#झुकेंगे_नहीं!@RRPSpeaks
— ANIL DESHMUKH (@AnilDeshmukhNCP) January 5, 2024
Though Rohit Pawar has made no official touch upon the raids, he reacted to his colleagues’ posts utilizing the emoji for “thank you”.
🙏🤝💪 https://t.co/eTf0DgzChu
— Rohit Pawar (@RRPSpeaks) January 5, 2024
(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)
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