Did ED File a Supplementary Chargesheet in the Money Laundering Case Involving Rohit Pawar and Two Others?

Mumbai, July 26 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) from the Mumbai Zonal Office has submitted a Supplementary Prosecution Complaint on July 7 concerning the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scam. This adds three individuals/entities, including NCP-SP legislator Rohit Pawar, M/s Baramati Agro Limited, and Rajendra Ingwale, as additional accused in the alleged money laundering offense.

In a statement released on Friday, the ED noted: “The Hon’ble Special Court (PMLA) in Mumbai issued a process on July 18. This marks the third Supplementary Prosecution Complaint filed by the ED in this case. The ED's investigation commenced based on FIR No: 224 of 2019, registered on August 26, 2019, at the M.R.A. Marg Police Station, Mumbai, following a complaint from Shri Surendra Arora as part of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) No. 06 of 2015 presented before the Hon’ble Bombay High Court. Previously, during the PMLA, 2002 investigation, the ED filed one main Prosecution Complaint followed by two Supplementary Prosecution Complaints against 14 other individuals involved in the MSCB Scam.

“Upon issuing process in the recently filed third Supplementary Prosecution Complaint, the Hon’ble Court has summoned all three accused. Additional investigations are currently underway,” the ED stated.

Sources indicate that the ED’s third supplementary complaint pertains to the acquisition of the Kannada Cooperative Sugar Factory.

“The ED suspects that the Kannada Cooperative Sugar Factory was procured via an alleged fraudulent auction process. In 2009, the MSCB assumed control of the factory's assets to recover debts of Rs 80.56 crore from Kannada SSK. Subsequently, the bank conducted an auction at an unreasonably low reserve price based on dubious valuations. The ED alleges that the auction was marred by significant irregularities. The leading bidder was disqualified on questionable grounds, while individuals connected to Baramati Agro, whose financial qualifications and experience were dubious, participated in the auction,” sources added.

The ED has previously asserted that the assets in question belong to Kannad Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Limited (Kannad SSK), which Baramati Agro acquired through what is believed to be a manipulated auction. According to the agency, this acquisition breached the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, as the assets are classified as “proceeds of crime.” The money laundering investigation originated from an FIR filed by the Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai Police in August 2019, citing various sections of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

However, Rohit Pawar, recently appointed as the State NCP general secretary, held a press conference asserting that his name was not included in the FIR filed by the ED. “... 97 individuals were not named in the FIR. Yet, my name was intentionally mentioned. I faced questioning from the ED for 12 hours multiple times. I will pursue justice in court, from the Sessions Court to the Supreme Court. I will not evade this,” he declared.