Anil Deshmukh
NCP. Ex-Maharashtra home minister
Agencies: ED, CBI, IT
Deshmukh was arrested on November 2 last year in connection with an extortion case for allegedly demanding ‘100 cr of ”good luck” money from orchestra bars and restaurants for their “smooth functioning”. On December 29, ED filed a supplementary charge-sheet in the case against Deshmukh, calling him the “prime mover” in the case. The ED said its probe revealed that at least 13 companies, which are directly controlled by family members of Deshmukh and at least 14 which were controlled by the family through close associates, were utilised for the purpose of “infusion of ill-gotten money of Deshmukh”.
Deshmukh is also being probed in a corruption case along with his family members. Other than extortion allegations, the CBI is also probing Deshmukh for “misusing” his post when he was Maharashtra home minister.
Anil Parab
NCP. Maharashtra transport minister
Agencies: ED, CBI, IT
Parab is being probed in a money laundering case registered against Deshmukh and others in connection with transfer and postings of police officers. The ED, in its prosecution complaint had attached the statement of dismissed Mumbai police officer Sachin Waze, who had claimed that other than NCP leader Deshmukh, he received “time to time instructions” Parab to collect bribes.
In March, the IT department said it found unaccounted cash transactions of ‘6 crore spent on construction of a resort by Parab.
Varsha Raut and Sanjay Raut
Shiv Sena. Member, Rajya Sabha
Agencies: ED, IT
The ED said that while probing a money laundering case against jailed HDIL promoters Rakesh and Sarang Wadhawan, it traced certain transactions linked to Raut’s wife, Varsha. According to the agency, investigation conducted so far revealed that about ‘100 crore was transferred from HDIL to the account of the arrested accused, Pravin Raut. It said the probe revealed that in 2010, part of the alleged proceeds of crime amounting to ’83 lakh was received by Varsha Raut directly or indirectly from Madhuri, wife of Pravin Raut. This amount was allegedly utilised by Raut for purchase of a flat in Dadar. After initiation of the ED investigation, ’55 lakh was transferred by Raut to Madhuri Raut, said the ED. It has attached the flat and eight land parcels in Alibaug, a getaway on the outskirts of Mumbai.
Ajit Pawar
NCP. Deputy Chief Minister
Agencies: ED, IT
The ED has been probing Ajit Pawar in the irrigation scam and the fraud caused to Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB). The agency has attached assets worth’65 crore of Jarandeshwar Sahkari Sugar Karkhana (SSK), a sugar cooperative factory situated at Koregaon, Satara, Maharashtra, in connection with its money laundering probe in the MSCB case.
The IT department has been probing Pawar and his family members for alleged tax evasion and under the Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act (PBPTA), 1988. Last year, the department show-caused and provisionally attached four assets.
According to the department, search operations carried out at 70 locations revealed unaccounted and benami transactions to the tune of ‘184 crore.
Sharad Pawar
NCP Chief
Agencies: ED
The ED is probing the role of more than 70 politicians, including 50 from the NCP, nine from Congress, two from Shiv Sena and one from the BJP, in the MSC Bank scam. While deputy CM Ajit Pawar is named as an accused in the FIR, his uncle, NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar, is not named in the case registered by the city police. However, he is being probed by the central agency. Pawar “voluntarily” visited ED’s Mumbai headquarters but was stopped at the gate.
Praful Patel
NCP. Former Union Minister
Agencies: ED
A firm linked to Praful Patel and his family members was probed in a terror financing case linked to erstwhile gangster Iqbal Memon alias Iqbal Mirchi by the ED. In October 2019, the agency had questioned Patel in the case in connection with a property confirmation deed involving Millennium Developers, which is owned by the NCP leader. According to the ED’s documents, which were seen by ET, on February 21, 2007, Millennium Developers signed a deed with “tenants” Hajra Memon, Iqbal’s widow and their children Asif and Junaid, for a unit at Ceejay House in Mumbai.
Ashok Chavan
Congress. PWD minister
Agencies : CBI, IT and ED
Both the ED and IT are probing Chavan for his alleged role in the Adarsh CHS scam. Recently the IT department conducted searches on premises linked to the cabinet minister in connection with a loan given to a sugar factory. The agency had also raided builders linked to the minister for alleged tax evasion.
Hasan Mushrif
NCP. Rural development and labour minister in Maharashtra government
Agencies: MCA
The MCA is probing a Pune-based sugar factory in which Mushrif’s family members are directors. The probe allegedly revealed that Pune-based Sar Senapati Santaji Ghorpade Sugar Factory Ltd, which is controlled by Mushriff’s family members, allegedly flouted corporate governance norms and indulged in fraud and alleged irregularities. Rajat Consumers Services Pvt Ltd became a shareholder of the company in 2012-13 and subscribed to 11.8 million shares having a value of Rs 10 each. However, the profit and loss statement filed by the company shows that the revenue from operations was Rs 4.33 lakh, the findings revealed.
Nawab Malik
NCP
Agencies: ED , NIA
In February, the ED arrested the Maharashtra state minority affairs minister in a money laundering case linked to 1993 Mumbai blasts mastermind, Dawood Ibrahim. According to the agency, Malik and Haseena Parkar, the late sister of Ibrahim “planned to usurp a property (in suburban Mumbai)”. Malik took control of Solidus Investments Pvt Ltd controlled by Parkar’s aide, becoming tenants of the property under probe. Malik then connived with Parkar and 1993 Mumbai blasts convict Sardar Khan and took illegal control of the property, the ED had told the court.
The other prominent MVA leaders being investigated by central agencies include Pratap Sarnaik, Bhavana Gawali and Yashwant and Yamini Jadhav.