In a significant legal development that carries heavy political implications for Maharashtra, a special court in Mumbai has officially discharged Rohit Pawar, the grand-nephew of Sharad Pawar, in connection with the high-profile Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) money laundering case. The ruling effectively brings the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) investigation against the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA and several other associates to a definitive conclusion.
Court Findings and the “No Predicate Offence” Rule
The Special Court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) delivered the verdict following a closure report submitted by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Police. Under current Indian judicial precedents, a money laundering case initiated by the ED cannot be sustained if the original “predicate offence”—the underlying criminal case filed by local police—is closed or results in an acquittal.
Earlier this year, the EOW filed a “C-Summary” report, which is typically submitted when a case is viewed as being based on a mistake of fact or is civil in nature rather than criminal. With the special court accepting this report, the legal foundation for the ED’s investigation vanished, leading to the discharge of Rohit Pawar and the Baramati Agro firm associated with him.
A Long-Standing Legal Battle
The MSCB case dates back several years and centers on allegations of financial irregularities and the
fraudulent sale of sugar cooperatives at undervalued prices to private entities. The ED had specifically targeted Baramati Agro, alleging that the company had manipulated the auction process to acquire assets of the Kannad Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana (SSK).
Throughout the probe, Rohit Pawar maintained that the investigation was politically motivated. In early 2024, the ED had even attached assets worth over ₹50 crore linked to his business interests. However, with the court’s latest order, those legal clouds have cleared, providing a major reprieve for the young leader ahead of key municipal and state political cycles.
Political Aftermath in Maharashtra
The discharge of Rohit Pawar is being viewed as a major victory for the Sharad Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party. For months, opposition leaders in Maharashtra have accused federal agencies of being used as tools for political intimidation. This court victory is expected to bolster the party’s narrative of resilience against central pressure.
While the ED has the option to challenge this discharge in a higher court, the current ruling marks a total cessation of the current proceedings, allowing Rohit Pawar to refocus his efforts on his legislative responsibilities and party organizational work.
