Embroiled in the Maharashtra State Co-operative bank scam, the former deputy chief minister of Maharashtra and a prominent NCP leader, Ajit Pawar has resigned from his post as an MLA. He has tendered his resignation to assembly speaker Haribhau Bagade who has promptly accepted his resignation.
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The Maharashtra State Co-operative bank scam, which also allegedly involves Ajit’s uncle Sharad Pawar, relates to the several loans that were granted to cooperative sugar factories (CSFs) in connivance with then senior officials of the co-operative bank with the purpose of siphoning off money, causing a huge loss to the bank.
According to the investigation carried out by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), and a charge sheet filed by a quasi-judicial enquiry commission under the Maharashtra Cooperative Societies (MCS) Act, Pawar and other accused, including several directors of the bank were squarely responsible for the loss. It stated that because of their decisions, actions and inactions, massive losses were incurred to the bank. Ajit Pawar had served as deputy chief minister of the state from November 10, 2010, to September 26, 2014.
The Bombay High court had earlier instructed the Mumbai Police’s EOW(Economic Offender Wing) to file an FIR against Ajit Pawar and others involved in the scam following which the EOW filed an FIR. The court observed that “prima facie” there was credible evidence against the accused. The accused allegedly were involved in causing losses worth Rs 1,000 crore to MSCB from the period 2007 to 2011.
Apart from the Mumbai Police’s FIR, Ajit Pawar is also being investigated by the probe agency Enforcement Directorate and has been mentioned in the Enforcement Case Information Report(ECIR) on the charges of money laundering.