Maharashtra co-operative fraud: How co-op sugar mills become private properties
As the Jarandeshwar Sugar Co-operative Mill in Satara district unsuccessful to repay its instalment of financial loan, the Maharashtra State Co-operative Financial institution (MSCB) auctioned it for ₹65.seventy five crore in 2010.
Expert Commodity Solutions Pvt. Ltd, a culture with a turnover of ₹63 lakh, bought the mill in the auction, claims Shalinitai Patil who once headed the mill. Patil claims that the real rate of the mill, the land and other assets is at minimum ₹2,000 crore. She alleges that there was a “conspiracy” to get the mill and its land.
Go through also: How politicians are pocketing sugar mills and their extensive lands
Spouse of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vasantdada Patil, Shalinitai was once known as a feisty politician in the State. For a temporary time period, she was with Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Social gathering (NCP) and also served as a Member of the State Legislature (MLA). But her political profession went offtrack soon after she locked horns with the Pawar household.
In July 2021, the Enforcement Directorate attached the homes such as land, setting up and structure, and plant and equipment of Jarandeshwar Mill. The ED is probing the total circumstance beneath the provisions of the Prevention of Income Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).
Income matters
Investigations performed beneath the PMLA revealed that MSCB organized an auction of Jarandeshwar at an undervalued rate and devoid of adhering to owing course of action.
Expert Commodity Solutions bought the mill and quickly leased it to Jarandeshwar Sugar Mills Pvt Ltd. Interestingly, Sparkling Soil Pvt. Ltd retains the the greater part of shares of Jarandeshwar Sugar Mills Pvt Ltd.
ED investigations revealed that Sparkling Soil is similar to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and his spouse Sunetra Pawar. Interestingly, when the mill was auctioned by MSCB, Ajit Pawar was on the Board of MSCB.
The ED, in its take note, mentioned that investigations additional revealed that though Expert Commodity Solutions (a dummy corporation) was utilised to obtain the sugar mill, it was basically managed and run by Jarandeshwar Sugar Mills.
“Further, the mill has been utilised as a auto by Jarandeshwar Sugar Mills for acquiring a financial loan to the tune of ₹700 crore from Pune District Central Co-operative Financial institution and other folks from the calendar year 2010 till date. Thus, the assets held in the title of Expert Commodity Solutions (leased to Jarandeshwar Sugar Mills Pvt. Ltd.) in the kind of land, setting up and structure, plant and equipment of Jarandeshwar, remaining proceeds of criminal offense, the exact same has been provisionally attached beneath PMLA,” the ED mentioned in its take note.
‘All leaders hand in glove’
Pursuing the ED probe into Jarandeshwar Sugar Mill, BJP State Unit President Chandrakant Patil dashed off a letter to Household Minister Amit Shah demanding an ED probe into the sale of other 30 co-operative sugar mills. However, two of these 30 factories were bought by corporations similar to BJP chief and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. In 2013, social activist Medha Patkar experienced alleged that two mills were supplied to Gadkari-similar corporations at a throwaway rate.
Speaking to reporters not too long ago, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar denied any wrongdoing. He said: “There have been numerous probes in the previous into this affair by businesses these kinds of as the State CID, the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Financial Offences Wing, but absolutely nothing came of them.” He included that he was remaining focused by the BJP-led federal government at the Centre.
BJP leaders, such as State President Patil and former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, have jumped into motion to protect Gadkari. Patil instructed reporters that he experienced only quoted the checklist of mills submitted to the Bombay Substantial Courtroom when a writ petition was submitted, and presently Gadkari experienced clarified that he compensated a much larger total for the factories than the rate made the decision by the lender.
“However, he (Gadkari) himself has said that he is open to any probe,” Patil claimed.
“All social gathering leaders are working hand in glove. They commence co-operative mills with the assistance of the State’s concessions and subsidies and then little by little change these mills into personal homes. Politicos have invented the official mechanism to get community dollars and land,” said farmer Babasaheb Savat.
Element 1 of the sequence: How politicians are pocketing sugar mills and their extensive lands
Element three of the sequence: Maharashtra co-operative fraud: Endgame for co-operative sugar factories?
(This is the 2nd of a three-element sequence)