Mumbai: In what could mean trouble for leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has begun its probe into companies which bagged irrigation contracts in the State during the tenure of the previous Congress-NCP government. One of the companies is owned by the kin of senior NCP leader former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Sources in the ED confirmed to The Hindu that it has sought files pertaining to Raj Promoters and Civil Engineers Pvt. Ltd. from the ACB, which had bagged contracts for irrigation projects, roads and hydro power during the Congress-NCP rule.
“We have asked for files and documents of one company since we too are looking money laundering. We have been going through the documents of all companies involved and have asked for all details pertaining to this company,” an ED official, said.
The company belongs to Jagdish Kadam, son of Ajit Pawar’s maternal uncle, and one Ram Nimbalkar. It was alleged by social activist Anjali Damania in her complaint to the ACB that this shows Mr. Pawar’s direct involvement in companies that won contracts from the State Irrigation Department.
Investigators are probing the company in relation to money laundering worth ₹1,000 crore in the irrigation scam, as well as the company’s involvement in the inordinate rise in prices of assets owned by it. While officials refused to share further details, including if any political leader is likely to called for inquiry, political circles are abuzz with predictions of possible action against yet another NCP leader, after Chhagan Bhujbal.
