Maharashtra assembly polls: Case against NCP leader Ajit Pawar in connection with cash seizure

A case was registered against NCP leader Ajit Pawar today in connection with the seizure of Rs 4.85 lakh cash here two days ago from a vehicle which also carried his visiting cards and clothes, police said.

The former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister has been accused of violating the model code of conduct which is in place for the October 15 Assembly polls, Sub Divisional Police officer Shankar Kangare said.

Gangakhed police have registered the case against Pawar and also made Vijay Bhamble, NCP's Jintur assembly constituency candidate and party's district unit president, a co-accused in the case.

According to police, they had intercepted the vehicle on Wednesday morning and a search recovered Rs 4.85 lakh in two bags. The driver of the vehicle, Krushna Hazare, had told them that the clothes in the vehicle belonged to Pawar and his PA.

The vehicle, which was being used for Bhamble's poll campaign, was heading to Latur from Parbhani when it was intercepted, police said.

"Based on a complaint filed by one Nitin Khandare, a case of violation of model code of conduct, was registered," Kangare said.

Ajit Pawar had reportedly said earlier that the cash found in the vehicle was meant for political campaign.

According to the officer, the numberplate of the vehicle (MH-09 BX-5210), from which the cash was seized, was also used on another vehicle for a poll campaign of a candidate in Jaysingpur in Kolhapur district.

"We are probing if the numberplate is fake," Kangare added.