A special court in Mumbai has discharged senior leader Ajit Pawar and his family members in connection with the alleged Rs 25,000 crore scam involving the Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank (MSCB), bringing a significant development in a long-running financial investigation.
The case pertained to alleged irregularities in the sanctioning of loans and sale of assets by the cooperative bank to sugar factories and other entities between 2007 and 2011. Investigative agencies had alleged that the transactions caused substantial financial losses to the bank, which is considered a key financial institution for Maharashtra’s cooperative sector. Ajit Pawar, who held ministerial portfolios during the period in question, had been named among several politicians and officials in the probe.
In its order, the court observed that there was insufficient material to proceed against Pawar and his family members. It held that the evidence placed on record did not establish a direct role or criminal intent linking them to the alleged irregularities. The discharge effectively grants them a clean chit at this stage of the proceedings, although the broader investigation into the bank’s transactions has involved multiple accused over the years.
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Ajit Pawar, a prominent figure in Maharashtra politics and a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has consistently denied wrongdoing, maintaining that the allegations were politically motivated. His supporters welcomed the court’s decision, calling it a vindication of his stand.
The Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank case has been politically sensitive, given its financial scale and the influence of the cooperative banking and sugar sectors in the state’s economy. The latest ruling is expected to have political implications, particularly as Maharashtra continues to witness shifts and realignments within its political landscape.
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