Relief For Ajit Pawar, Wife Sunetra In Maha Co-Op Bank Scam Case, Uddhav Sena Targets Modi Over 'Clean Chit'
Sunetra Pawar, wife of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and NCP Lok Sabha candidate from Baramati, got a clean chit from the Economic Offences Wing in the Rs 25,000 crore Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank case.
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police has submitted a closure report in the Rs 25,000 crore Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank scam case, stating that there is no evidence of criminal wrongdoing involving Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, his wife Sunetra Pawar, and his nephew Rohit Pawar, among others. Notably, Sunetra Pawar is also the NCP Lok Sabha candidate from the Baramati seat. Reacting to the development, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey targetted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, "PM Modi had raised the allegation and said that it is a corrupt family. But, today she has been given a clean chit".
Maharashtra | Sunetra Pawar, wife of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and NCP Lok Sabha candidate from Baramati, has got a clean chit from the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in the Rs 25,000 crore Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank scam case: Mumbai Police
— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2024
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey told ANI, "Mumbai Police's EOW gave a clean chit to Sunetra Pawar, wife of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Lok Sabha candidate from Baramati, in the Rs 25,000 crore MSCB bank scam case."
"PM Modi had raised the allegation and said that it is a corrupt family. But, today she has been given a clean chit. All the leaders who were accused and joined the BJP have been given a clean chit. EOW stated in its closure report that it did not see any criminal act in this case," he added.
#WATCH | Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey says, "Mumbai Police's EOW gave a clean chit to Sunetra Pawar, wife of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Lok Sabha candidate from Baramati, in the Rs 25,000 crore MSCB bank scam case. PM Modi had raised the allegation… pic.twitter.com/cJ7cOlH5vo
— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2024
No financial losses were incurred by the bank, and it has recovered Rs 1,343.41 crore from the loans issued, Indian Express reported citing the EOW closure report. The closure report, filed in January and disclosed recently, pertains to allegations of irregularities in loans granted to sugar factories by the MSC bank.
The case revolves around claims that loans were sanctioned to sugar factories without adhering to due process, and subsequently, when these loans turned into non-performing assets, they were sold to persons connected to the bank’s directors at prices below market value.
The EOW’s report, spanning 35 pages, examined three major transactions and concluded that “no criminal offences or irregularities were observed” in the loan approvals or factory sales, Indian Express said in a report.
Regarding the sale of Jarandeshwar Sufar Sahakari Karkhana, the report refuted the allegations of underpricing, stating that the “sale price exceeded the reserve price”.
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According to the report, in the case of the sale of Kannad SSK, the EOW stated that the transaction occurred during a period of government-appointed administration and was in compliance with SARAFESI Act, dismissing claims of impropriety.
“The sale was during the tenure of the administrator and as per the SARAFESI Act. Hence, there is no evidence that the sale was linked to relatives of the director of the bank,” the EOW has said, Indian Express said.
Similarly, in the case of the sale of Ram Ganesh Gadkari SSK, the EOW found no evidence of financial loss to the bank and asserted that transactions were conducted within the framework of the SARAFESI Act, it said.
The closure report has implications for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe, which cannot proceed without a predicated offence. The ED had filed chargesheets in connection with the MSCB case, alleging financial irregularities.
Since its inception, the case has undergone various shifts. In 2020, when Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was in power, the EOW said that there was “no criminal offence committed”. In October 2022, the agency said that it wanted to continue the probe, keeping aside its closure report, after the BJP-Shiv Sena government came to power in the state. Earlier this year, in January, months after Pawar became the deputy CM again, the EOW said that there was “no offence committed”. Notably, the Court is yet to make a final decision on the matter.
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