Ajit Pawar and Wife Cleared in Maharashtra Cooperative Bank Scam
Court Grants Relief to Ajit Pawar and His Wife
In a significant development regarding the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank scam, the late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and his spouse, Sunetra Pawar, have received considerable relief. A special court in Mumbai has accepted a report from the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), which exonerates both individuals in connection with the alleged ₹25,000 crore scam involving loan distributions at the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (Shikhar Bank). The court approved the closure report, stating that no punishable offense has been established in this case.
Acceptance of EOW's Report
The special court notably acknowledged the 'C-summary' report from the EOW concerning the late Deputy Chief Minister. This decision has provided a sigh of relief not only to Ajit Pawar but also to other political figures implicated in the scandal. The court's approval of the closure report indicated that no criminal wrongdoing was proven in the alleged ₹25,000 crore scam.
Over 70 Individuals Cleared
The Mumbai special court has accepted the closure report filed by the EOW regarding the ₹5,000 crore Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) case, leading to the exoneration of Ajit Pawar, his wife Sunetra, and more than 70 others.
No Criminal Offense Established
The court concluded that the alleged irregularities related to loans and recoveries from cooperative sugar factories do not constitute a criminal offense. This ruling supports the EOW's findings that neither Ajit Pawar, Sunetra Pawar, their relatives, nor others were involved in any criminal transactions related to this institution.
Background of the Case
This case originated in 2019 when the Bombay High Court directed the registration of an FIR based on allegations against MSCB and district cooperative banks. It was claimed that these banks provided interest-free loans to sugar mills, facilitating the creation of special loan accounts for individuals connected to bank officials and politicians. Additionally, it was alleged that companies later sold their assets at significantly undervalued prices.