The Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has closed the Rs 25,000 crore Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) ‘scam’ case against Sunetra Pawar, wife of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The EOW’s closure report stated that there was no evidence of criminality or misconduct on Sunetra Pawar’s part, and that the bank had not suffered any losses during the loan or sale of the Jarandeshwar Sugar Mill.
Sunetra Pawar is the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA)’s candidate for the Baramati Lok Sabha constituency. She stepped down as a director of Jai Agrotech in 2008, two years before the company gave Rs 20.25 crore to Jarandeshwar Sugar Mill. The mill was later leased to Jarandeshwar, whose director Rajendra Ghadge has ties with Ajit Pawar.
The Opposition has criticized the EOW’s decision to clear Sunetra Pawar. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey accused the BJP of giving clean chits to leaders who join the party after being accused of wrongdoing. Dubey said that the BJP harasses dissenting leaders and rewards those who join them with ministerial positions or election tickets.
The BJP has not yet commented on the EOW’s decision to clear Sunetra Pawar.
