NCP SP Leader Supriya Sule Accuses ED of Misusing Power in Rohit Pawar Case

NCP SP leader Supriya Sule has accused the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of misusing its power by attaching assets of a sugar mill owned by a company of Rohit Pawar, grandnephew of NCP SP supremo Sharad Pawar. She claims that Rohits name was not in the original case registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Maharashtra government and that the EOW had filed a closure report in the case, which was opposed by the ED.

In a strong reaction to the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) attachment of assets belonging to a sugar mill owned by a company of Rohit Pawar, grandnephew of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar, NCP leader Supriya Sule has accused the agency of misusing its power. Sule asserted that Rohit Pawar's name was not mentioned in the original case registered by the Economic Offenses Wing (EOW) of the Maharashtra government.

EOW's Closure Report and ED's Opposition

Sule highlighted that the original first information report (FIR) filed by the EOW, which falls under the state home ministry, did not include Rohit Pawar's name. She further revealed that the EOW had filed a closure report in the case, but the ED opposed the report. The NCP leader questioned the fairness of the ED's actions, suggesting that the agency was targeting Rohit Pawar because of his political affiliations and outspoken nature.

Allegations of Political Vendetta

Sule expressed her concern about the selective targeting of individuals associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or its allies in the FIR registered by the EOW. She raised questions about the impartiality of the ED's actions and accused the agency of misusing its power and the central agencies of Income Tax, CBI, and ED, which the NCP refers to as "ICE."

ED's Attachment of Assets

Earlier in the day, the ED announced the attachment of assets worth over Rs 50 crore belonging to a sugar mill owned by Rohit Pawar's company. The action was part of a money laundering investigation related to the alleged Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank (MSCB) scam. The ED provisionally attached 161.30 acres of land, plant, machinery, and building of the Kannad Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Limited (Kannad SSK) located in Kannad village of Aurangabad district under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Ownership of Kannad SSK

Kannad SSK is owned by Baramati Agro Ltd., a company of Rohit Pawar, who is also a member of the legislative assembly (MLA) belonging to the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP. The ED's action has drawn sharp criticism from the NCP, which views it as politically motivated and an attempt to silence dissenting voices.

Conclusion

The NCP's strong condemnation of the ED's action against Rohit Pawar's sugar mill reflects the party's concerns about the misuse of power by central agencies. The allegations of political vendetta and selective targeting have added to the controversy surrounding the case. The developments have further intensified the ongoing political tensions between the NCP and the ruling BJP in Maharashtra.