‘No Problem If Sent To Jail,’ Says Sharad Pawar After Being Booked By ED In Money Laundering Case

Pawar, his nephew and several other politicians and officials have been booked in the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scam worth around Rs 25,000 crore

Sharad Pawar

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate has registered a  money-laundering case against Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar, his nephew Ajit Pawar, dealing a setback to the party, weeks ahead of the crucial Maharashtra Assembly polls. Reacting to the agency’s move, Pawar said that he has no problem if he has to go to jail. “Case has been registered. I've no problem if I've to go to jail. I'll be pleased as I've never had this experience. If someone plans to send me to jail, I welcome it,” he said. Pawar, his nephew and several other politicians and officials have been booked in the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scam worth around Rs 25,000 crore Apart from Pawar, his nephew Ajit Pawar, Diliprao Deshmukh, Isharlal Jain, Jayant Patil, Shivaji Rao Nalvade, Anand Rao Adsul, Rajendra Shingane, Madan Patil and some others have been named in the case. The investigation has been initiated based on the FIR registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police following directions from the Bombay High Court, ED sources said. On September 2, the Supreme Court had declined to entertain Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) seeking to quash the investigation against NCP leader Ajit Pawar and others in connection with the MSCB scam case. The case pertains to loans given by the bank amounting to crores of rupees to some companies allegedly on the recommendation of Ajit Pawar and some others, who were directors of the bank between the years 2005-2010. The bank had to suffer losses as the companies never returned the loan. (Inputs from ANI)