Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Friday dropped his plan to go to the Enforcement Directorate office in Mumbai after a request by the probe agency and Mumbai Police Commissioner.
After the Enforcement Directorate registered a money laundering case against Sharad Pawar, his nephew Ajit Pawar, and several other politicians, the NCP leader was set to suo moto ‘present’ himself at the ED office today afternoon.
Security arrangements were tightened in and around Mumbai in view of his visit to the ED office.
In a letter just hours before Pawar’s expected visit, the ED wrote to him that “there is no need for him” to come. It also said if there was any requirement in future, “it will inform him”.
Later, Mumbai Commissioner of Police Sanjay Barve visited Sharad Pawar’s residence in Mumbai and requested him not to visit ED office as prohibitory orders were in place.
Subsequently, Pawar dropped his plan and told reporters, “I will not visit the Enforcement Directorate office for now”.
“Mumbai Commissioner of Police and Joint CP met me today and requested me not to go so that the law and order situation remains under control,” he added.
Triggering a political earthquake ahead of the October 21 Assembly elections in Maharashtra, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a money laundering case against Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar, his nephew Ajit Pawar, and several other politicians and officials in the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scam worth around Rs 25,000 crore.
The Pawars and other prominent politicians, named in a public interest litigation filed by Arora, were accused of causing losses worth around Rs 25,000 crore to the MSCB between 2007 and 2011.
Since Thursday, the police have deployed massive security, erected barricades, and imposed other restrictions in parts of South Mumbai to ward off any untoward incidents.
Assembly elections will be held in Maharashtra in a single phase on October 21. Counting of votes will take place on October 24 and the results will be out on the same day.