After a lot of political drama and tantrums, NCP chief Sharad Pawar has finally stated that he will not make his uninvited visit to the ED office today. As per reports, Pawar has just now declared that he will cancel his visit because the Mumbai police commissioner and joint commissioner met him and requested him not to go, in order to maintain law and order.
NCP Chief Sharad Pawar: Mumbai Commissioner of Police and Joint CP meet me today and requested me not to go so that the law and order situation remains under control. https://t.co/431crZ0sen
— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2019
NCP leader Sharad Pawar, despite the Enforcement Directorate’s intimation that he is not required at their office today, had remained obstinate in visiting the investigative agency’s office.
NCP leader Nawab Malik in Mumbai: Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sent an e-mail stating that Sharad Pawar is not required to visit the office today. When required, ED will intimate him. But, Sharad Pawar is firm to go to ED office. pic.twitter.com/w2MPVjq1C1
— ANI (@ANI) September 27, 2019
NCP leader Nawab Malik, while addressing the media said that the Enforcement Directorate has sent an e-mail stating that Sharad Pawar’s presence at their office is not required today and they will intimate them when he needs to visit the office. However, Malik asserted that Pawar is firm on visiting their office.
Earlier today, ahead of Sharad Pawar’s visit to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in connection with the money laundering case, prohibitory orders were put in force in South Mumbai. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief was supposed to visit the ED office today in Mumbai’s Ballard Estate area.
The former Maharashtra Chief Minister and his nephew, former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, were named in the Rs 25,000 crore Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scam. A case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has been registered against the accused.
After the ED took cognisance of the scam and booked money laundering case against the Pawars, several political parties have come forward taking up the cudgel to defend the NCP supremo. Former Congress President and Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi jumped in the defence of Sharad Pawar, saying that he is being a victim of vindictive government just a month before the Maharashtra state elections.
Sharad Pawar Ji is the latest Opposition leader to be targeted by a vindictive Government. The timing of this action, a month before elections in Maharashtra, reeks of political opportunism. https://t.co/XCW0GsdXjj
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 27, 2019
Another political party and an ally of the BJP, Shiv Sena too appeared to side with the NCP leader, stating that the government should have had a ‘prior discussion’ with the ED as Pawar is a tall leader and enjoys considerable popularity in the state.
Amidst the ensuing the drama, the Mumbai Police teams had remained alert and deployed to maintain law and order in the finance capital of India. Mumbai Police was also taking the help of drones for the surveillance of Ballard estate where Section 144 has been imposed.
