The winter session of the Maharashtra Assembly on Thursday started with a tussle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction over induction of Nawab Malik into the ruling alliance in Maharashtra. While the BJP objected to Malik’s presence in the state Assembly over his alleged links with “underworld don Dawood Ibrahim”, the Opposition on Friday raised similar allegations against NCP leader Praful Patel and questioned the saffron camp over his acceptance in the Mahayuti, the alliance of the BJP, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction.
Questioning Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over his objection to Nawab Malik occupying the treasury benches, the Opposition leaders accused the BJP of not taking action against NCP leader Praful Patel for his alleged links with late gangster and drug smuggler Iqbal Mirchi.
Since the underworld connections echoed in the Maharashtra Assembly recently, let’s see which political leaders are being investigated in Maharashtra and why.
List of Leaders Who are Being Investigated in Maharashtra
Nawab Malik
Nawab Malik, who is currently out on bail on medical grounds, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in February 2022 and August this year. He was arrested for his alleged connection with Dawood Ibrahim and helping his sister Hasina Parkar grabbed a plot of land at Kurla.
Praful Patel (Ajit Pawar faction)
Four floors of a commercial building in Worli, owned by NCP leader Praful Patel, was attached by the ED in connection with a money laundering case involving Iqbal Mirchi, a close aide of gangster Dawood Ibrahim. The investigation agency filed a chargesheet against Mirchi and continued its probe against the NCP leader.
Ajit Pawar
Pawar, who joined BJP-Eknath Shinde alliance ditching his uncle Sharad Pawar, is under ED’s radar for his alleged role in the auction of Jarandehshwar Cooperative Sugar Mills at a throwaway price.
Yamini Jadhav (Shinde faction)
The Income Tax department sought disqualification of Maharashtra MLA from Byculla Yamini Yashwant Jadhav of the Shiv Sena over discrepancies in the election affidavit in 2019.
Pratap Sarnaik (Shinde faction)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken into possession several plots belonging to a firm owned by Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik in connection with the National Spot Exchange Limited (NSEL) scam.
Hasan Mushrif (Ajit Pawar faction)
Earlier in January 2023, ED raided several premises linked to NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Hasan Mushrif in Kolhapur and Pune districts, reportedly as part of its investigation into alleged irregularities in the purchase of a cooperative sugar mill. In 2019 as well, the Income Tax Department raided Mushrif’s residences and factory premises.
Bhavana Gawali (Shinde faction)
Premises linked to Gawali were searched by ED in connection to a money laundering case. The ED registered a case against her based on an FIR lodged by police alleging usage of government grants by misusing power.
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