ED searches NCP former minister Hasan Mushrif’s home in Kolhapur

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya had earlier made serious allegations against Mushrif about the financing of Sar Senapati Santaji Ghorpade Sugar Mill, Appasaheb Nalwade Gadhinlaj Taluka Cooperative Sugar Mill and the running of the Kolhapur District Central Cooperative Bank, of which Mushrif is the chairman.

As news spread about the raids, hundreds of supporters of Mushrif started a sit-in protest outside his residence in Kagal.

Slogans were raised against the BJP-Sena state government and some supporters even tried to enter Mushrif’s house. Heavy police bandobast was subsequently deployed outside his home.

Mushrif is one of the senior-most NCP leaders in Kolhapur, who enjoys cordial ties with both Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar. His control of the Kolhapur District Central Cooperative Bank and Gokul, the district cooperative dairy union, is seen as the key to his hold over the district.

Mushrif and Congress Member of Legislative Council Satej Patil had earlier unseated the board of directors of Gokul, which was controlled by Mahadev Mahadik, whose nephew Dhananjay Mahadik is a senior BJP leader.