Sharad Pawar named in bank scam case by ED ahead of Maharashtra polls

Days ahe of Maharashtra assembly elections,  Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a case against  NCP chief Shar Pawar, his nephew Ajit Pawar and ors in  Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scam case on Tuesday. Officials said that an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), equivalent to a police FIR, has been registered by central ncy under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). case is based on a Mumbai Police FIR. FIR h named former chairmen of bank, ex-deputy chief minister of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar and 70 former functionaries of cooperative bank. However, some reports have said that Shar Pawar was t named in initial FIR by Mumbai Police.

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Shar Pawar's reaction

Responding to development, Pawar has said that he is t surprised. In a rar sarcastic tone, Pawar thanked central ncy for naming him in case. He claimed that move has been taken after seeing response of people during his rallies. Speaking to reporters, Pawar said: "I thank probe ncies because y have involved my name in a case relating to such a bank of which I am t even a member of, I was t involved in its decision-making. If y have filed a case against me too, I welcome it. I would have been surprised h such action t been taken against me after kind of response I receive during my visits to various districts of state," Shar Pawar ded.

Shar Pawar, who initially appeared clueless about his name figuring in ED's case, said that he has t received any tice yet. NCP dismissed it as a politically motivated case. "This is a politically motivated move, aimed at defaming opposition leers ahe of polls," NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik alleged. Ar NCP leer, Dhananjay Munde, criticised move and said that efforts were being me to bedevil Shar Pawar given "huge" response he was receiving in poll-bound state and same h me ruling BJP "fidgety".

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Congress attacks BJP

Maharashtra Congress, too, hit out at Modi government. It said that ED is being used to suppress opposition leers to ensure "totalitarian" regime of BJP. " ED is being used to suppress leers in opposition. It is clear it is being done to bring totalitarian rule of BJP," it said. "This establishes autocracy has arrived in country," Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant ded.

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BJP- Shiv Sena lauds move by ED

Meanwhile,  Maharashtra unit of ruling BJP, however, justified ED action.  state BJP unit said that it took steps as per rules and procedures. Shiv Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande pitched for a probe into matter (MSCB scam) to give justice to people and called for punishing guilty. "Common people deposit money in co-operative banks. This matter should be probed. Action should be taken against whoever is guilty irrespective of parties y belong to," Kayande said.

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