A day after his close aide Sunil Tatkare was grilled by Anti-Corruption Bureau officials, Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar, who was Deputy Chief Minister in the Congress-NCP government, on Wednesday appeared before the Maharashtra ACB in connection with the alleged irregularities in irrigation projects in Raigad district.
This was the first time a member of the Pawar family was grilled by an anti-corruption agency in Maharashtra.
Mr. Pawar, who had refused to appear before the ACB on the pretext of the Ganesh festival in August, reached the ACB office at Worli around 5 p.m., and was questioned by the officials for the next few hours.
Written replies
Pawar had earlier submitted written replies to a questionnaire sent by the ACB.
In December last, the Devendra Fadnavis government had ordered open inquiries against three NCP leaders, including Pawar, Tatkare, and former Public Works Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, in connection with alleged irregularities in awarding contracts for irrigation and construction of public buildings.