Satyamev Jayate, says Supriya Sule as ED questions NCP's Rohit Pawar in MSCB scam case

Pic/Anurag Ahire

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule on Wednesday expressed faith in Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigations into the alleged Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scam case, reported news agency ANI.

NCP MP Supriya Sule along with other party leaders accompanied Rohit Pawar to the office of the central investigation agency this morning where the latter was summoned for questioning in the MSCB scam case, reported ANI.

"Satyamev Jayate. The truth will triumph...Investigations must be transparent and fair. I have full faith in ED. I am sure they will hear Rohit's side. He has come. We are going to completely cooperate with all the agencies because we have nothing to hide," Supriya Sule said speaking to reporters on Wednesday, reported ANI.

Supriya Sule said that government data has shown that 95 per cent of the cases being probed by the central investigation agencies are against Opposition party leaders, reported ANI.

"I am going by data and data always speaks for itself. In the Parliament, there was a reply given by the Government of India, that 95 per cent of cases of ICE meaning Income Tax, CBI and ED are on people who are in the Opposition parties," Sule said, reported ANI.

Rohit Pawar, the grandnephew of the NCP supremo Sharad Pawar before entering the ED office was seen touching the feet of his aunt Supriya Sule who handed him a copy of the Indian Constitution.

Prior to going to the ED office, Rohit Pawar went to the NCP office situated nearby, met with Sharad Pawar and also interacted with other party leaders.

Talking to reporters, Rohit Pawar said that he does not have anything against the ED officials as they were doing their work.

"I am carrying all the files and documents that the agency had asked for. I will answer all the questions of ED and will support them. The ED officials are just doing their work, I don't have anything against them. I am ready to support them in every possible way," the NCP MLA told reporters, reported ANI.

The MSCB scam case relates to the alleged fraudulent disbursal of loans amounting to Rs 25,000 crore. The case triggered the filing of a PIL petition in the Bombay High Court by four persons.

The PIL shed light on the alleged modus operandi of the fraud. In the petition, it was alleged that some sugar mills defaulted on the loans, which were given without due diligence. Those sugar mills were attached by the MSC banks and auctioned to various office bearers of the bank and politicians.

Acting on the PIL the Bombay High Court ordered the registration of a case. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW), which is under the Maharashtra government, investigated the case. When EOW filed a closure report in 2020 in the Bombay Session Court, ED filed an intervention petition against the closure report and started an investigation.

(With inputs from ANI)