Money laundering case: ED searches premises of former NCP minister Hasan Mushrif in Kolhapur

MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials on Saturday conducted searches at premises of former minister and NCP leader Hasan Mushrif in Kolhapur in a money laundering case.
In January, the ED had searched his family members' premises in the Rs 35-crore money laundering case.
Last month, three sons of Mushrif moved the special court seeking anticipatory bail after stating that the threat of arrest is being used to further political agendas describing their case as a classic example of manipulation to harass politicians and their families. The matter is pending before the court.
The ED had claimed suspicious flow of crores from two companies "without having substantial business" to Sar Senapati Santaji Ghorpade Sugar Factory Ltd, where Mushrif’s sons -- Navid, Aabid and Sajid -- are directors or stakeholders. Hasan Mushrif is an MLA from Kagal in Kolhapur and was rural development minister in the previous state government led by Uddhav Thackeray.
The ED's money laundering case is based on a police case filed by the Registrar of Companies (RoC) in Pune against Sar Senapati Santaji Ghorpade Sugar factory, associated with Mushrif's family, for its financial connection with companies registered with doubtful credentials. The RoC had also filed a complaint before the Pune special court against Sar Senapati Santaji Ghorpade Sugar factory and others last year, and the court issued process against them for making false statements while filing the annual report.
It is alleged that a company, Rajat Consumer Services (RCS), has been one of the preference shareholders (worth Rs 11.85 crore) of Sar Senapati Santaji Ghorpade Sugar Factory from 2013. Afterwards, RCS was struck off from the RoC, but still illegally it remained a preferred shareholder of the sugar factory. It was alleged that RCS didn't have any business but it had received Rs 50 crore as share premium, which it had invested in various companies, including the sugar factory.
Similarly, another company, Mount Capital, was one of the preference shareholders worth Rs 2.9 crore of Sar Senapati Santaji Ghorpade sugar factory. Mount Capital didn't have any substantial business, and it received Rs 25 crore as share premium which it invested in various companies, including the factory.
Two years ago, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya had alleged that Mushrif controlled the Sar Senapati Santaji Ghorpade Sugar Factory and Appasaheb Nalawade Sugar Factory, through which he had laundered money. Mushrif had denied the allegations.