Legal Trouble, ‘Rebellion’: Why Ex-Minister Sunil Kedar Could Whip Up Trouble For MVA This Poll Season

Last Updated:November 14, 2024, 14:19 IST

The Congress leader, accused of financial irregularities during his tenure as chairman of a cooperative bank, has thrown his weight behind an independent candidate, angering Uddhav Thackeray

According to local reports, Shiv Sena UBT leaders from Ramtek have termed Sunil Kedar’s behaviour “dishonest”. (PTI)

The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has refused to grant a stay on the inquiry against former minister Sunil Kedar in the ongoing investigation into the Nagpur District Central Cooperative (NDCC) Bank scam. Accused of financial irregularities during his tenure as chairman of the bank, Kedar faces charges of causing a loss of Rs 22 crore to the bank.

The inquiry into the scam pertains to allegations of mismanagement and improper loan distribution, which reportedly led to substantial financial damage to the bank. A special committee was established to probe the irregularities. Kedar had sought a stay on the committee’s proceedings, citing procedural concerns. However, the high court rejected his plea, stating that the inquiry would proceed as planned.

Kedar had previously been convicted in the NDCC Bank case and sentenced to five years in prison, along with a fine of Rs 50,000. Following the conviction, he approached the high court for relief, seeking a suspension of his sentence. While the court allowed him temporary relief, it directed that investigations into the matter continue.

The high court has also mandated that representatives of all parties connected to the case submit their responses by October 8. A subsequent hearing was scheduled for October 15 during which the court reiterated the importance of the ongoing investigation.

The scam dates back to the 1990s and involves allegations of fraudulent practices, including improper loan distribution and mismanagement of funds. Kedar, along with other accused, allegedly sanctioned loans without following proper procedures, which resulted in heavy losses to the bank.

In its latest order, the high court made it clear that Kedar’s request to halt the inquiry lacked sufficient grounds, and the investigation must continue uninterrupted. The court also emphasised that ensuring accountability in cooperative banking institutions is vital to protect depositors’ interests.

The next hearing is set for December 3 when the court will review the progress of the ongoing inquiry. Meanwhile, Kedar’s legal troubles continue to pose challenges to his political career as he is a prominent Congress leader in Vidarbha.

The issue has triggered a controversy once again in the run-up to the assembly polls after Kedar was seen campaigning for former Congress leader and independent candidate Rajendra Mulak. This has hurt local Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders, especially those of the Shiv Sena UBT.

According to local reports, Shiv Sena UBT leaders from Ramtek have termed Kedar’s behaviour “dishonest". However, the leader says his intention was clear. “Considering the ground situation, we had to go ahead with the current option as our aim is very clear — we have to avenge Uddhav Thackeray’s insult by local MLA and leader of Shinde faction, Ashish Jaiswal. Uddhav Thackeray gave him everything but he betrayed Thackeray."

Before the last date of nominations for assembly polls, Kedar had met Uddhav Thackeray at his residence to convince him to support Mulak but the former chief minister was reluctant to leave the seat for the Congress and also did not want to accept Mulak’s idea of contesting on the Shiv Sena UBT symbol.

Shiv Sena UBT spokesperson Anand Dubey said: “In such a situation, we should aim to defeat our opponents and follow the ‘Yuti Dharma’ but such a move may further split MVA votes. This should have been avoided."

In response, Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe said: “The party is firmly supporting the official MVA candidate in Ramtek constituency. Those who have rebelled against the party and alliance have been suspended." When asked about Kedar’s support for Mulak, Londhe said: “The state leadership of the party will take a call on this issue."

News elections Legal Trouble, ‘Rebellion’: Why Ex-Minister Sunil Kedar Could Whip Up Trouble For MVA This Poll Season