Relief for Sunetra Pawar: Mumbai police gives clean chit to Ajit Pawar's wife in ₹ 25,000 crore bank scam case

Sunetra Pawar, wife of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and NDA candidate for the Baramati Lok Sabha seat has received a clean chit from the Mumbai Police in connection with an alleged cooperative bank scam amounting to Rs 25,000 crore. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police, investigating the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) case, filed a closure report in January, asserting no criminal offense in transactions linked to Pawar and her husband.

Pawar is set to contest from the Baramati seat, a stronghold of Sharad Pawar, against his daughter Supriya Sule, who is also her sister-in-law.

Maharashtra | Sunetra Pawar, wife of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and NCP Lok Sabha candidate from Baramati, has got a clean chit from the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in the Rs 25,000 crore Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank scam case: Mumbai Police

— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2024

Opposition criticism

The filing of the report has triggered criticism from the opposition, accusing the BJP of employing central agencies and police forces against dissenting leaders. They allege a pattern of investigations slowing down or culminating in clean chits once individuals align with the ruling party.

Ajit Pawar, who broke away from the NCP to join the ruling alliance of BJP and Shiv Sena, assumed the role of Maharashtra deputy chief minister last year.

Details of closure report

The EOW's closure report emphasizes that the bank incurred no losses in loan sanctions or the sale of the Jarandeshwar Sugar Mill, associated with Ajit Pawar. It highlights Sunetra Pawar's resignation from Jai Agrotech's directorship in 2008 and subsequent financial transactions involving the mill.

What was opposition's response to clean chit?

Shiv Sena, part of the alliance with NCP and Congress, criticized the clean chit, citing it as evidence supporting their "washing machine" analogy. They allege a trend of leaders being absolved of allegations upon joining the BJP. The Baramati Lok Sabha constituency, where Sunetra Pawar is contesting, will witness polling during the third phase on May 7, with results expected on June 4.