MUMBAI (Friday, March 6, 2026) — Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar has moved a discharge application before a special PMLA court in Mumbai. The application, filed through his legal counsel, seeks to drop all money laundering charges linked to the alleged Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank (MSCB) scam.
The Legal Argument: Lack of “Predicate Offense”
The core of Rohit Pawar’s discharge plea rests on a fundamental principle of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA): for a money laundering case to exist, there must be an active underlying (predicate) criminal offense.
- The EOW Closure: In early 2024, the Mumbai Police Economic Offences Wing (EOW) filed a Closure Report (C-Summary) in the original cheating and fraud case, stating that no cognizable offense was made out against the accused directors and officers of the MSCB.
- The Defense’s Stance: Advocate Kushal Mor argued that since the primary case by the EOW—which served as the basis for the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) probe—has been closed and accepted by the court, the ED’s money laundering case cannot legally stand.
- Supreme Court Precedent: The plea cites the landmark Vijay Madanlal Choudhary judgment, which ruled that if a person is acquitted or discharged in the predicate offense, the PMLA proceedings must also be quashed.
Context: The MSCB Sugar Mill Allegations
The investigation involves the alleged fraudulent sale of Sahakari Sakhar Karkhanas (SSKs) or cooperative sugar mills.
| Investigation Detail | Description |
| The Allegation | MSCB officials allegedly sold sick sugar mills at “throwaway prices” to private entities linked to influential politicians without following open auction procedures. |
| The Rohit Pawar Link | The ED’s probe focuses on Kannad SSK, which was purchased by Baramati Agro (a company controlled by Rohit Pawar) for approximately ₹50 crore. |
| ED’s Claim | The agency alleged that the auction was rigged and that Baramati Agro utilized “proceeds of crime” to acquire the asset. |
| Current Assets | In early 2024, the ED provisionally attached assets worth ₹50.20 crore belonging to Kannad SSK. |
What Happens Next?
The special court has directed the Enforcement Directorate to file its formal response to Rohit Pawar’s discharge application.
- Hearing Date: The matter is likely to be heard later this month.
- Wider Impact: This case is closely watched as it involves several high-profile Maharashtra politicians across party lines. If the discharge is granted, it could set a precedent for other co-accused in the multi-crore bank scam.
Sources
- Press Trust of India (PTI): “Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank ‘scam’ case: Rohit Pawar moves discharge application” (March 6, 2026)
- The Times of India: “MSCB Case: Rohit Pawar seeks discharge citing EOW closure report” (March 6, 2026)
- Hindustan Times: “ED attachments and the Baramati Agro link in MSCB scam” (January 15, 2026)
- Bar and Bench: “PMLA Court seeks ED’s reply on Rohit Pawar’s discharge plea” (March 7, 2026)
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