Pune: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids on Tuesday morning at the residences of Mangaldas Bandal, the former District Council Construction Chairman, in Mohammadwadi, Pune, and Shikrapur Burunjwadi. The raids, which began at 7 a.m., are part of an ongoing investigation into money laundering activities linked to Bandal.
Bandal, who was present at his Mohammadwadi residence during the raid, is a known figure in the Shivajirao Bhosale Cooperative Bank case, where he is an accused.
His wife, Rekha Bandal, a former District Council member, and his brother were at the Shikrapur residence during the ED's search. Officials are scrutinizing documents and have also inspected bank lockers connected to Bandal as part of the investigation.
This raid by the ED follows a previous raid by the Income Tax Department at Bandal's residence. Bandal, who had been jailed in connection with the bank case, is currently out on bail.
During the Lok Sabha Elections, Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar had attended a rally in support of NCP candidate Sunetra Pawar, who contested the Baramati Lok Sabha seat. After the rally, Fadnavis visited the residence of Dashrath Mane, a party worker and industrialist, where Mangaldas Bandal was also present.
Bandal had earlier sought a candidacy for the Lok Sabha elections from the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, though the party later revoked his nomination after allegations of being close to the BJP. Bandal is now expressing interest in contesting the upcoming Shirur-Haveli Assembly elections.
His lawyer, Adv. Aditya Saswade, confirmed that Bandal has appeared before the ED four times for questioning and has been cooperating with the investigation.
