Close on the heels of searches on the residences of Lalu Prasad Yadav – the former chief minister of Bihar and his family members in Mumbai, New Delhi, Patna and Ranchi, the officials from Enforcement Directorate (ED) has carried out a raid at the residence of former minister and MLA Hasan Mushrif in Kolhapur on Saturday morning.
It is said that this is the third raid during the last two months carried out by the Enforcement Directorate at the residence of Nationalist Congress Party leader. A convoy of ED officials reached the NCP leader’s house early in the morning on Saturday at Kagal area and unfolded a search operation.
It is said that the ED officials, investigating a case of reported embezzlement in a sugar factory, have so far carried out raids in Kolhapur and Pune. The team of Enforcement Directorate is questioning Mushrif in connection with an alleged siphoning-off of Rs.40 crore in Santaji Ghorpade sugar factory.
Apart from searching houses, the investigation officials are getting the details about bank accounts of Kolhapur District Bank. Upon receiving the report about the fresh raid by the ED on Mushrif’s house people especially the sympathizers gathered near the house and found venting frustration at the investigating agency for targeting the MLA time and again.
While the local people blame that a famous public figure and philanthropist is being subjected to harassment deliberately, the family member of NCP leader said that Hasan Mushrif was not present in the house when the ED officials knocked the door to carry out a search.
The series of ED raids, that began from January 11 this year came after the allegation leveled against Mushrif by the BJP leader K.Somaiah. The second raid on Kolhapur District Central Bank headquarters came after 21 days where Musharraf served as Chairman. Later, the ED touched down at Senapashi Kapshi area in Kagal and Harli branch in Gadhinglaj area.
It is learnt that the ED official booked a case against Mushrif under Money Laundering Act alleging embezzlement of Rs.35 crore. A separate case of fraud against the leader was already registered in Murgud police station., embezzlement case
