Sugar mill linked to NCP MLA Rohit Pawar fined Rs 4.5 lakh

Representational picture

A sugar mill linked to Nationalist Congress Party MLA Rohit Pawar has been slapped with a fine of Rs 4.5 lakh for allegedly allowing sugarcane into its premises before the date stipulated by the Maharashtra government, an official said on Thursday.

The Baramati Agro sugar mill is located in Shetphalgadhe in Indapur tehsil in Pune and has been accused of starting the cane crushing process before the date prescribed the state government.

A video clip of sugarcane being brought into the mill's premises was submitted as proof by those seeking action, Sugar Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad.

"However, during our probe it was found that this electronic evidence (video clips) could not establish that cane crushing was underway in the mill. But the mill could not give proof of receipts being given to farmers for the cane brought in or whether these were weighed," he said.

Also read: Sanjay Raut alleges conspiracy to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra; says attempts on to weaken it through constant attacks

Since 900 tonnes of cane were found at the mill, a fine of Rs 500 per tonne, adding up to Rs 4.5 lakh, was imposed, Gaikwad added.

Bharatiya Janata Party MLC Ram Shinde had raised this issue in the Legislative Council recently and had sought strict action against the sugar mill.

Incidentally, Shinde was defeated by Rohit Pawar in the 2019 Assembly polls from Karjat Jamkhed in Ahmednagar district.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.