MSCB case: EOW gives clean chit again to Ajit Pawar and 70 others
In October 2020, the agency had filed a closure report when the Maha Vikas Aghadi was in power but two years and a change in government later, in October 2022, the EOW said that it wanted to continue with its probe.
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In the absence of a predicate offence, like the EOW case, the ED cannot continue with its probe. Recently, the ED had also summoned Ajit Pawar in connection with the same case.THE ECONOMIC Offences Wing (EOW) filed a closure report again this month in the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) alleged fraud case, giving a clean chit again to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and over 70 others.
In October 2020, the agency had filed a closure report when the Maha Vikas Aghadi was in power but two years and a change in government later, in October 2022, the EOW said that it wanted to continue with its probe.
On January 20, through its special public prosecutor Ajay Misar, the EOW told the court that it had considered the evidence before it and the protest petitions filed by the complainant and others. However, nothing significant was found and hence a closure report was filed.
The court will now decide on whether to accept the report or direct the agency to continue with the investigation and file a chargesheet. In the first report, the EOW had said that it found no irregularities and the case was of a civil nature.
A case was filed following directions by the Bombay High Court looking into the alleged irregularities in the sale of sugar cooperatives, including Jarandeshwar Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana, allegedly linked to Pawar’s kin.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had filed a separate offence alleging money-laundering based on the EOW’s case. It has so far filed two chargesheets, including against Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction MLA Prajakt Tanpure. In the absence of a predicate offence, like the EOW case, the ED cannot continue with its probe. Recently, the ED had also summoned Ajit Pawar in connection with the same case.
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