The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar, who was named in a money-laundering case last evening, stated in a statement today that he would be “pleased” to go to jail as he had “never experienced it”.
NCP Leader Sharad Pawar Named In Corruption Case
In a complaint Opposition politician has been named but is also not listed as an accused in the police report on what the Enforcement Directorate states that it is a Rs. 25,000-crore scam which comprise of the sanction of loans by the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank. Along with him, his nephew Ajit Pawar has also been named.
Sharad Pawar, 78, stated on the case that has emerged less than a month before the October 21 Maharashtra election, “A case has been registered. I have no problem if I have 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,”
Previously, Mr Pawar had “thanked” the Enforcement Directorate in a sarcastic comment for naming him in connection with a bank of which he was not a member as well as where he was not a part of policymaking.
As per to the complaint, it alleges that the banking laws as well as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines were violated when loans were offered to sugar factories along with the spinning mills in Maharashtra that had weak financial profiles. There are many of those who had sanctioned the loans which were apparently connected to the owners of the sugar mills.
The Enforcement Directorate on the other hand has also filed a case naming the Pawars based on a case filed after a Bombay High Court ordered the police to charge Ajit Pawar along with 75 others in the alleged scam.
The Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank is controlled mostly by NCP leaders as well as all such people that are close to them.
After the case came to light, a case was filed last month by the economic offence wing of the Maharashtra police after the high court order was received. On the basis of the case, the Enforcement Directorate started a money-laundering investigation soon after that.
As per to the sources, there are many of the sugar factories which have turn into sick and were sold at off-the-cuff prices. Those who accepted them were apparently linked to the bank’s directors.
Mr Pawar has also questioned the timing of the case as campaigning picks up for the assembly elections that is going to ditch the ruling BJP as well as its ally Shiv Sena against the opposition Congress-NCP alliance.
He stated, “I would have been surprised had such action not been taken against me after the kind of response I receive during my visits to various districts of the state,”
Mr Pawar retorted at a rally in Maharashtra, apparently referring to a case against Mr Shah, in which he was discharged, “One leader from their party (BJP) questioned what Sharad Pawar has done. I would like to say one thing, Sharad Pawar has never been to jail for whatever good or bad things he did. Those who were in jail for months are asking what I have done,”
Shiv Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande also stated regarding the case,”Common people deposit money in co-operative banks. This matter should be probed. Action should be taken against whoever is guilty irrespective of the parties they belong to,”
Maharashtra BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye said the ED took the step according to the rules and norms, “If there is a scam if an FIR is registered in its connection and if the scam is to the tune of more than Rs 100 crore, the ED has to take cognizance of the same.
“This is the protocol. The case was filed in Mumbai as per the Bombay High Court order…the ED has taken action as per the procedure,” Upadhye added.
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