Social activist Anna Hazare has expressed surprise over NCP president Sharad Pawar's naming cropping up in the multi-crore Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank scam. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a money laundering case against Pawar, his nephew Ajit Pawar - a former deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and others in connection with the scam. An Enforcement Case Information Report, equivalent to a police FIR, has been registered by the central agency under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

READ: Rahul Gandhi Questions Timing As ED Names Sharad Pawar In Bank Scam

Anna Hazare on Pawar's name in MSCB Scam

The case is based on a Mumbai Police FIR which had named former chairmen of the bank, Ajit Pawar, and 70 erstwhile functionaries of the cooperative lender.

"When this case came to me, Sharad Pawar's name was not there anywhere. How did his name crop up, who mentioned his name, all these things only they know," said Hazare on Thursday when asked about the ED case and the Maratha strongman's alleged links to the scam.

READ: Sharad Pawar Goes To ED Office, Section 144 In Parts Of South Mumbai

The anti-corruption crusader, a nominal Pawar critic, expressed the hope the truth will come out after the ED carries out a detailed investigation in the scam.

"The ED will come to know how his name figured in the case," said Hazare, a veteran of many anti-corruption agitations.

Pawar has denied any wrongdoing and said he was not associated with the bank in any capacity and questioned the timing of the registration of the case which comes just weeks ahead of the October 21 Assembly polls in Maharashtra. The former Union Minister has asserted he would not bow before the 'throne' of Delhi, apparently referring to the BJP-led government at the Centre. The NCP has termed the ED case as politically motivated.

Cooperative Bank Scam: ED May Not Allow Sharad Pawar In Mumbai Office

NCP supremo in MSCB Scam

Ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls in October, the ED has filed a case against the NCP chief Sharad Pawar, his nephew Ajit Pawar and others in the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) scam case. The accused allegedly were complicit in causing losses worth Rs 1,000 crore to MSCB between 2007 and 2011. 

Sharad Pawar's reaction

Sharad Pawar has asserted that he is not surprised. He claimed that the move has been taken after seeing the response of people during his rallies. Speaking to reporters, Pawar said: "I thank the probe agencies because they have involved my name in a case relating to such a bank of which I am not even a member of, I was not involved in its decision-making. If they have filed a case against me too, I welcome it. I would have been surprised had such action not been taken against me after the kind of response I receive during my visits to various districts of the state," Sharad Pawar added.  Pawar also confirmed his visit to the ED office in a tweet:

READ: Sharad Pawar Tweets Confirming His Visit To ED Office On Friday

(With PTI Inputs)