Court takes cognizance of chargesheet against MLA Rohit Pawar in Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank scam | Mumbai News

Mumbai: A special court on Friday took cognisance of a charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against MLA Rohit Pawar in the alleged Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank (MSCB) scam, observing that he prima facie “knowingly participated in this fraudulent acquisition”.Special Judge for MPs/MLAs case, Satyanarayan Navander, after taking cognisance, issued summons to Pawar, businessperson Rajendra Ingwale, and an accused firm, Baramati Agro Limited. The court issued a process requirement for them to appear before it on Aug 21.In June, the ED filed a fresh charge sheet against Pawar, his close associate Ingwale, as well as the Agro firm. It was the third charge sheet, and there are 17 accused, including firms, in the case. Pawar, a legislator from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was earlier questioned twice by the ED.The Maharashtra State Co-op Bank money laundering case stems from an August 2019 FIR of the Mumbai Police Economic Offences Wing (EOW). The court, after perusing the record, said, “Prima facie it emerges that the auction process of M/s. Kannad Sahkari Sakhar Kharkhana Ltd. was marred by fraudulent practices. Notably, the factory was revalued by Yes Bank at Rs.75 crores in March 2013, shortly after the auction, pointing towards undervaluation during the auction. There appears to be a pre-arranged scheme between Baramati Agro Ltd. and Hi-Tech Engineering Corporation Pvt. Ltd. to acquire the factory at a suppressed price. Accused Rohit Pawar, Director of Baramati Agro Ltd., and accused Rajendra Ingwale, Director of Hi-Tech Engineering Corporation Pvt. Ltd., are prima facie found to have knowingly participated in this fraudulent acquisition.”