Shruti Sneha, Pune
On Thursday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided six locations, including agricultural properties in Baramati, linked to Rohit Pawar, NCP president Sharad Pawar’s grandson and MLA. These coordinated searches, which took place in Mumbai, Pune, and Baramati, are part of a larger investigation into a money laundering case. The ED is looking into possible financial irregularities at the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank.
The raids, which took place between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., are in response to a previous notice issued to Rohit Pawar last year regarding alleged misconduct at Baramati Agro. The case revolves around the Kannada Co-operative Sugar Factory in Aurangabad, which received a Rs 50 crore loan from the State Co-operative Central Bank in 2012. Baramati Agro Pvt. Ltd. later bought the factory at auction with the help of Hitech Engineering Corporation of India Ltd. and another private company.
Investigations revealed that on August 25, Rs 5 crore was transferred from Baramati Agro to Hitech Engineering, and two days later, Hitech Engineering participated in the factory auction. The funds used by Baramati Agro for the acquisition were obtained through various bank loans intended for working capital requirements but allegedly misappropriated for other purposes.
In court, the ED expressed concerns about the improper use of bank-received funds in this transaction. Hitech Engineering, a supplier to Baramati Agro, is said to have received money from the latter in exchange for services rendered. Despite the controversy surrounding the ED’s actions, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the move has no political motivation and that such encounters are common in business.
The NCP faction led by Sharad Pawar criticized the search operation, blaming it on Rohit Pawar’s recent Yuva Sangharsh Yatra. Clyde Crasto, an NCP spokesperson, stated that the searches would not deter Rohit Pawar from continuing to work for the party. Last year, Rohit Pawar, a first-time MLA, led a foot march from Pune to Nagpur to highlight the challenges that Maharashtra’s youth face.