Ajit Pawar

Ajit Pawar was at the centre of allegations involving rising costs, accelerated approvals and poor performance of Maharashtra irrigation projects. An ACB affidavit in 2018 had highlighted his supervisory responsibility, before a 2019 affidavit cleared him in the cases examined.

State of the evidence

investigations, affidavits and litigation documented

Legal status — source text

in 2019 the ACB stated that it found no personal criminal responsibility by Ajit Pawar in the cases examined; PILs were still being discussed before his death in January 2026

Attribution

alleged ministerial responsibility during his tenure as Water Resources Minister; no substantiated conviction

In July 2023, Ajit Pawar led a large NCP faction into the BJP–Shinde government and broke with his uncle Sharad Pawar. The Election Commission subsequently recognised Ajit's camp as the official NCP and awarded it the clock symbol.

State of the evidence

split and Election Commission decisions documented

Legal status — source text

electoral and political litigation; no personal conviction

Attribution

direct political responsibility as leader of the breakaway faction

The MSCB case concerned sales and management of loans to sugar cooperatives and formed the basis for financial investigations. Ajit Pawar was one of the political figures most frequently mentioned in the controversy because of his positions in the cooperative sector and government.

State of the evidence

EOW FIR, ED investigation and judicial closure report documented

Legal status — source text

in February 2026 a special court accepted the EOW closure report; irregularities examined were not considered to constitute criminal offences in the predicate case

Attribution

Ajit Pawar was publicly associated with the case but was not named in charge sheets in several strands; the final EOW outcome was favourable to him

During the campaign, Ajit Pawar was accused of implying that voters would receive development funds if they supported his faction. A complaint alleged an attempt to influence voting using public money.

State of the evidence

electoral complaint and administrative decision documented

Legal status — source text

Returning Officer found no established breach of the Model Code of Conduct in the passage examined

Attribution

personal responsibility for remarks; favourable administrative outcome

The Enforcement Directorate attached assets worth approximately Rs 65.75 crore belonging to Jarandeshwar Sugar Mills, alleging that the privatisation of the former cooperative and related companies led to Ajit Pawar's family. The agency questioned a sale it considered undervalued.

State of the evidence

provisional ED attachment and alleged links documented

Legal status — source text

financial investigation; no personal conviction of Ajit Pawar established

Attribution

attribution limited to allegations of connection and influence surrounding the transaction; personal ownership or illegality not finally established

In the Lavasa litigation, Bombay High Court examined Ajit Pawar's role in government processes connected to the project and questioned whether his participation was appropriate given interests attributed to his family in the development.

State of the evidence

High Court civil judgment documented

Legal status — source text

no criminal conviction; the court refused the requested relief for reasons of delay and fairness

Attribution

personal allegations distinct from those concerning Sharad Pawar: Ajit participated in government decisions while family interests were alleged

Ajit Pawar was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister with Devendra Fadnavis while the NCP was negotiating a coalition with Shiv Sena and Congress. Several NCP elected representatives subsequently stated that they did not support the move, which collapsed within days.

State of the evidence

political event documented

Attribution

direct political responsibility

During a severe drought in Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar mocked a protester demanding water by asking whether someone should 'urinate' into an empty dam. At the same rally, he joked that night-time power cuts left people with nothing to do but have children.

State of the evidence

remarks and apologies documented

Legal status — source text

no judicial proceedings

Attribution

personal responsibility for the statements