Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday claimed that Central agencies, including the Central Burea of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), were being misused to target the Opposition.

Referring to the Income Tax Department’s raids on companies connected to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, the NCP president, while addressing a press conference here, said personnel of the agencies have been conducting raids for the sixth day on Wednesday, which is very unusual. “Central agencies, including the ED, CBI  are being misused,” he claimed.

Pawar also said the Mumbai Police’s Anti-Narcotics Cell has done a better job than the NCB. The NCP, which shares power in Maharashtra with the Shiv Sena and Congress, had earlier said it would face the onslaught of Central agencies on its leaders and workers with full vigour. The I-T Department had raided companies linked to relatives of Ajit Pawar, a senior NCP leader, in the state. Senior NCP leader and former state minister Anil Deshmukh is also facing probes by Central agencies on multiple charges.

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