New Delhi/Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted searches at multiple premises in Maharashtra as part of a money laundering investigation against NCP MLA Hasan Mushrif and others, officials said.
The raids are understood to be linked to a probe related to alleged irregularities in the operations of some sugar mills based in the state that are linked to Mushrif.
Premises located in Mumbai, Pune and Kolhapur are being covered by the ED officials since around 6:30 am, they said.
Mushrif, 68, is a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA from the Kagal seat in Kolhapur. He is also the vice president of the political party, headed by former CM and Union minister Sharad Pawar, in Maharashtra. Mushrif posted an Instagram video message asking his supporters not to obstruct the action that he said are being carried out at the premises of his relatives, daughter and some cooperative sugar mills.
The politician said he was not aware about the case for which the ED action was being undertaken.
BJP leader Kirit Somiaya had in 2021 alleged that the former rural development minister (Mushrif) indulged in corrupt practices by holding 'benami' entities through his family members and companies.
The NCP had then dismissed these charges.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday dubbed "pressure politics" the Enforcement Directorate's action against former Maharashtra minister and NCP MLA, Hasan Mushrif.
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The Central agency conducted searches at multiple premises in Maharashtra as part of a money laundering investigation against Mushrif and others. The raids are understood to be linked to a probe related to alleged irregularities in the operations of some sugar mills based in the state that are linked to Mushrif, officials said.
"This action is pressure politics but Mushrif will come out of this phase," Raut told reporters.
He said Mushrif is a leader from the Opposition who is putting up a fight which is against a particular ideology.
"Be it me, Anil Deshmukh or Nawab Malik (who all were arrested by ED in separate cases)....some BJP leaders had talked about putting Hasan Mushrif behind bars. Such language was used against Bhavana Gawli (MP), Yeshwant Jadhav (both members of the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena) and many important leaders who are part of the government now.
"But they get relief and those in Opposition are facing pressure politics," Raut said, adding Mushrif is a fighter and the entire Opposition is with him.
The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction is part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) which also comprises the NCP and Congress.
(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)