Money laundering probe: Sharad Pawar NCP faction MLA Rohit Pawar appears before ED yet again

NCP MLA Rohit Pawar appears before ED in money laundering probe; supporters protest against harassment by government.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Rohit Pawar, who is NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s grand-nephew, appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) yet again on Thursday in connection with a money laundering probe into the alleged Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank scam.

The 38-year-old Rohit, a first-term legislator from Karjat-Jamkhed in Ahmednagar had been earlier questioned by the agency for several hours barely a week ago on January 24.

The money laundering probe case, which is part of the larger MSCB case, pertains to the sale of the Kannad Sahakari sugar factory (SSK) to Rohit Pawar’s firm - Baramati Agro.

Mr. Pawar reached the ED’s office at Mumbai’s Ballard Estate today afternoon as hundreds of NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) supporters protested against the ED’s summons while raising slogans against the Eknath Shinde-led ‘Mahayuti’ government for reportedly harassing the NCP MLA by unleashing probe agencies against him.

Notably, in a show of solidarity, Mr. Pawar was accompanied by family members till the agency’s office. Sharad Pawar’s wife, Pratibha Pawar, was seen accompanying Rohit along with the MLA’s wife, as well as Rajendra Pawar (Rohit’s father) and Revati Sule, who is Baramati MP Supriya Sule’s daughter and Sharad Pawar’s grand-daughter.

Mr. Sharad Pawar and Ms. Supriya Sule are currently in New Delhi for Parliament session.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Rohit Pawar said, “My family is always with me in moments of difficulty. Everyone is present today including my father, my wife, Pratibha kaki, my sister Revati. As a law-abiding, self-respecting citizen, I have promptly appeared before the ED following their summons in order to cooperate with them. The officers are only doing their duty.”