Unnecessary Sensationalism Being Created, Says Ajit Pawar on Crime Branch Visit to DesignBoxed Office in Pune

Mumbai:
Amid heightened political activity ahead of voting for municipal corporation elections across Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Tuesday dismissed allegations surrounding the Crime Branch’s visit to the Pune office of DesignBoxed, a political campaign management firm working with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), calling it “unwarranted sensationalism.”

The Crime Branch’s visit to the firm’s office in the Wakdewadi–Shivajinagar area of Pune had triggered intense political debate, especially as the elections for 29 municipal corporations, including Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, are approaching. These two civic bodies are crucial battlegrounds where both factions of the NCP are contesting against the BJP, making the stakes particularly high for Ajit Pawar.

Clarifying the matter, Ajit Pawar said that the police visit was part of a routine information-gathering process and not a raid or enforcement action. “Nothing objectionable was found during the inspection. The firm fully cooperated with the authorities and provided all the information sought,” he said.

DesignBoxed Working With NCP Since 2024

DesignBoxed, headed by political strategist Naresh Arora, has been associated with Ajit Pawar-led NCP since 2024. The firm managed the party’s campaign during the Maharashtra Assembly elections and was subsequently retained after the Lok Sabha polls to oversee election-related strategy.

Both Ajit Pawar and representatives of DesignBoxed maintained that the Crime Branch officials neither seized any material nor raised any objections during their visit. The police have also confirmed that no suspicious activity or illegal material was detected at the premises.

Political Reactions and Comparisons

The incident has sparked political reactions due to its timing, as election campaigning has already ended and only voting remains. The opposition has drawn parallels with earlier enforcement actions in other states, including the ED raid on a firm associated with the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal.

However, senior NCP leader Praful Patel also came out in defence of DesignBoxed and Naresh Arora, stating that the issue was being deliberately exaggerated. In a post on X, Patel said, “The facts are clear. Authorities sought routine information, full cooperation was extended, and nothing objectionable was found. Both Ajit Pawar and the Pune Police Commissioner have confirmed this.”

Patel added that the NCP stands firmly with its campaign partners and reiterated that the party believes in the rule of law and will continue to cooperate with all legal processes.

No Action, No Irregularities Found

Pune Police officials confirmed that the Crime Branch’s presence at the DesignBoxed office was limited to verification and information collection. No FIR, seizure, or follow-up action has been initiated so far.

With political temperatures rising ahead of the civic polls, the episode underscores how routine administrative actions are increasingly being viewed through a political lens during election season.