Jailed RSPS candidate wins from Maharashtra's Gangakhed

AURANGABAD: Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (RSPS) candidate Ratnakar Gutte, who is currently housed in district jail at Parbhani in connection with an alleged money laundering case, has won from Gangakhed. He defeated Shiv Sena’s Vishal Kadam by 1,641 votes.
Gutte, who was the only RSPS candidate in fray, had his family members campaign on his behalf — including his son-in-law and daughter — along with RSPS founder Mahadev Jankar. Notably, Gutte had contested for the assembly seat in 2014 from Gangakhed. He was defeated by over 2,200 votes by NCP rival Madhusudan Kendre.
The candidature of Gutte by RSPS, which is a BJP ally, had evoked controversy with Jankar and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis facing criticism for pitching a “tainted” candidate.
Earlier, in June, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had carried out searches at establishments linked to Gutte in Parbhani and a few other places in connection with the money laundering case.
In a press release, the ED said that Gangakhed Sugar and Energy Private Limited (GSEPL), owned by Gutte, had fraudulently availed loans from several banks in the name of ‘crop loan.’
“GSEPL has fraudulently availed loans from Andhra bank, UCO Bank, United Bank of India, Bank of India, Syndicate Bank, Ratnakar Bank in the guise of ‘crop loan’ to 8,000-10,000 farmers on the basis of guarantee given by GSEPL. ED has initiated investigations under PMLA against GSEPL and others on the basis of FIR registered by Gangakhed Police Station, Parbhani against M/s GSEPL, chairman and directors of GSEPL and others,” the press release read.
The FIR filed against Gutte stated that GSEPL allegedly created forged documents such as 7/12 extract, photographs and other fraudulent documents of upto 10,000 farmers to avail crop loans. These loans were illegally availed from various banks in the name of non-existing or bogus farmers and even in the name of dead farmers, it was alleged. Moreover, bogus saving accounts were created in these names and GSEPL submitted these bogus documents on the basis of which crop loans were sanctioned, police said.