Raut backs NCP chief in money laundering case filed by ED
Mumbai: Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena Friday openly came out in support of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, with Sena spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut saying that Mr Pawar was the “Bhishmapitamah of po-litics” and that Mahara-shtra had never seen such vendetta politics.
“The state knows that Mr Pawar was not holding any position with the bank, against which the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a FIR. Even the complainant had not mentioned his name. Anna Hazare too gave him a clean chit,” Mr Raut said.
“Just because some of his aides were involved, he was being called the kingpin. This did not come under the purview of law, Mr Raut said. The money laundering case against Mr Pawar had given his dormant party a fresh lease of life ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled on Octo-ber 21,” Mr Raut said.
Earlier this week, the ED filed a money laundering case against Sharad Pawar, his nephew and former deputy CM Ajit Pawar, and others in connection with the alleged Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank scam.
Mr Raut further said that the ED case had acquired a political dimension and that the Maratha strongman was a respected figure. “Those who know Mr Pawar and understand state politics will say that for no reason, the investigating agency has politicised the case,” he said.