"Enforcement Directorate Raids Six Locations, Including Premises Tied to Sharad Pawar's Nephew, in Maharashtra Co-operative Bank Scam Investigation"

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting searches at six locations in Maharashtra related to the alleged Maharashtra Co-operative Bank scam, as reported by PTI. On December 5, premises associated with Baramati Agro and linked entities are under investigation in connection with a money laundering probe.

The six locations being searched include Amravati, Aurangabad, Baramati, and Pune, according to official sources. The money laundering case originated from an FIR filed by the Mumbai Police Economic Offences (EOW) wing in August 2019. The police complaint followed an order from the Bombay High Court on August 22 of the same year, directing an investigation into the alleged fraudulent sale of sugar factories in the Maharashtra cooperative sector, reportedly at significantly reduced prices.

In April 2023, the ED filed a chargesheet against the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB), excluding the names of NCP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar, and his wife Sunetra Pawar. The ED had previously attached properties, including land, buildings, and machinery of Jarandeshwar Cooperative Sugar Mill worth ₹65 crore in July 2021 in connection with the same case. The matter is scheduled for a hearing on April 19.

In July 2021, the ED announced the seizure of assets exceeding ₹65 crore, comprising land, buildings, and machinery from Jarandeshwar Sahkari Sugar Mill in Satara district, Maharashtra. The assets, registered under Guru Commodity Services Pvt Ltd and leased to Jarandeshwar Sugar Mills Pvt Ltd, were seized under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) of 2002 as part of the investigation into the MSCB scam. The ED's investigation revealed that Sparkling Soil Pvt Ltd, a company associated with Ajit Pawar and his wife Sunetra Pawar, held a significant majority of shares in Jarandeshwar Sugar Mills.