Ajit Pawar, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and his wife has been cleared of all the charges in the 25,000 crore Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank scam case.
In its second closure report on the alleged fraud at the Maharashtra State Co-operative (MSC) Bank, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai police said it examined the information received and statements recorded.
One of the key points of contention was the sale of the Jarandeshwar Sugar Factory to Guru Commodity Pvt Ltd by MSC Bank at a price allegedly below market value, said EOW.
This transaction raised eyebrows, particularly as it was swiftly followed by the factory’s rental to Jarandeshwar Sugar Mill Limited and subsequent financial transactions involving significant sums of money.
Connections to individuals associated with prominent political figures, including Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s uncle, Rajendra Ghadge, who was a director of Jarandeshwar Sugar Mill Limited, and Ajit Pawar’s wife, Sunetra Pawar, who was a director of M/s Jay Agrotech Private Limited, further intensified scrutiny into the matter.
Furthermore, allegations surrounding the purchase of the Kannada Cooperative Sugar Factory by Baramati Agro Limited, led by Rajendra Pawar and Rohit Pawar, prompted thorough scrutiny.
Questions arose regarding the financial capacity of the purchasing entity and the source of funds utilized for the acquisition.
However, the closure report rebuts these claims, asserting that all transactions were conducted in accordance with legal procedures and under the supervision of government-appointed administrators following the dissolution of the MSC Bank’s board of directors in 2011.