Probe Agency Being Used To Subdue Maharashtra Government: Sharad Pawar

Notably, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting a probe into separate money laundering cases against former state home minister and Anil Deshmukh, NCP leader Eknath Khadse.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Tuesday claimed the Enforcement Directorate's actions against various Maharashtra leaders were an attempt to encroach on the state government's rights and discourage political opponents. Notably, the ED is conducting a probe into separate money laundering cases against former state home minister and Anil Deshmukh, NCP leader Eknath Khadse. The central agency last week also conducted raids at multiple premises in Maharashtra linked to Shiv Sena MP Bhavana Gawali in connection with a money laundering case. The NCP shares power with the Shiv Sena and Congress in Maharashtra. Talking to reporters in Pune, Mr Pawar said, "Never heard of so many ED's actions in Maharashtra in the past. One action is going on against (Eknath) Khadse, another against Anil Deshmukh, also against Bhawna Gawali. There is an attempt to encroach upon the state government's rights case and discourage the opponents by using these agencies as tools."