NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar on Thursday appeared before a special court in Mumbai in connection with the alleged Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank (MSCB) scam case. During his appearance at the special court, MLA Rohit Pawar asserted that a “bogus” chargesheet had been filed against him.
As reported by news agency PTI, the MSCB money laundering case stemmed from an August 2019 FIR filed by the Mumbai Police Economic Offences Wing (EOW). The case alleged that MLA Rohit Pawar was involved in the fraudulent sale of SSKs (Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana, or co-operative sugar mills) by the then officers and directors of MSCB at throwaway prices to their relatives/private persons without following due procedure.
Satyanarayan Navander, special judge for MPs/MLAs cases, took cognisance of a new chargesheet in the case against Pawar last month. Justice Navander observed that the accused was found to have “knowingly participated in this fraudulent acquisition” on the surface.
The special court then further summoned the NCP (SP) leader and other accused named in the supplementary chargesheet.
MLA Rohit Pawar, who represents the Karjat-Jamkhed Assembly seat in Ahilyanagar district, appeared before the court in compliance with the summons.
Advocates Dixita Gohil and Pranjal Agarwal, who are representing MLA Rohit Pawar, said that “the court, without imposing any conditions in observation of his compliance and reputation, recorded his appearance and directed him to execute a PR Bond,” as cited by news agency PTI.
News agency PTI also reported that, on inquiry by the court, Pawar`s lawyers submitted that the prosecution complaint (chargesheet) is bogus and no case is made out; therefore, the right to challenge is reserved.
Following the summons issued to MLA Rohit Pawar, the next date of hearing is October 8, 2025.
Earlier in June, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a fresh chargesheet in the case against Pawar, his close associate and businessman Rajendra Ingwale, as well as Pawar`s firm, Baramati Agro Limited. It was the third chargesheet, and there are 17 accused now, including firms.
The investigation agency claims that on July 13, 2009, the MSCB took possession of all Kannad SSK Limited`s assets under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest (SARFAESI) Act to recover an outstanding loan of ₹80.56 crore from the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.
On August 30, 2012, the MSCB auctioned Kannad SSK at a “very low” reserve price based on a faulty valuation assessment, according to the ED.
The agency said, “Apart from Baramati Agro Limited, two other parties entered the bidding process. The bidder with the highest bid was technically disqualified on flimsy grounds, whereas the other bidder was already a close business associate of Baramati Agro Ltd with no financial capacity or experience of running a sugar unit,” as cited by news agency PTI.
(With inputs from PTI)
