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Pawar clarified that the police presence was part of a routine information-gathering exercise and emphasised that DesignBoxed had provided full cooperation
Ajit Pawar maintained that the ‘concerned officers’ were given access to all requested data and that no objectionable material or financial irregularities were discovered during the inspection. File pic/PTI
In a swift response to police activity involving his party’s political strategy partners, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Ajit Pawar issued a formal statement on Tuesday. The reaction followed a visit by officers from the Pune Crime Branch to the local offices of Naresh Arora and his political consultancy firm, DesignBoxed. Pawar clarified that the police presence was part of a routine information-gathering exercise and emphasised that the firm had provided full cooperation to the authorities throughout the process.
The search of the DesignBoxed premises has sparked intense speculation in Maharashtra’s political circles, given the firm’s critical role in managing the NCP’s digital campaigns and public image ahead of upcoming local body elections. Addressing these concerns, Ajit Pawar maintained that the “concerned officers” were given access to all requested data and that no objectionable material or financial irregularities were discovered during the inspection. By framing the event as a standard procedural inquiry rather than a raid, the Deputy Chief Minister sought to neutralise narratives of a political crackdown or professional misconduct.
The Nationalist Congress Party, founded by Sharad Pawar, split two years ago after a rebellion led by his nephew Ajit Pawar. The faction headed by Ajit Pawar later joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with Ajit Pawar assuming office as Deputy Chief Minister. The two factions have now decided to join forces for this week’s Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation elections.
Standing firmly behind his strategist, Pawar declared that the Nationalist Congress Party remains resolute in its support for Naresh Arora and his organisation. He reiterated that while the party maintains the highest respect for the law and legal processes, it will not tolerate the spread of “confusion, rumours, or unnecessary narratives” that lack a factual basis. This stance of “patience, responsibility, and clarity” is seen as an attempt to protect the party’s key tactical assets from being embroiled in a broader legal controversy during a sensitive political window.
The context of this police visit is particularly significant, as political consultancies have increasingly come under the scanner of various investigative agencies across India. In January, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out high-profile raids on the Kolkata offices of the political consultancy firm I-PAC and the residence of its director, Pratik Jain. The searches were linked to a multi-crore money laundering probe involving an alleged coal smuggling syndicate, with the ED claiming that “tens of crores” in illicit funds were facilitated to the firm via hawala channels. The operation triggered a dramatic standoff as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at the site, accused the agency of attempting to “steal” her party’s election strategy and candidate lists, and was seen departing with several documents. While the ED has moved the Supreme Court alleging “state-sponsored obstruction,” I-PAC has maintained that it is a professional organisation cooperating fully with the law, despite what it termed an “unsettling precedent”.
DesignBoxed, which has worked with several high-profile leaders across the political spectrum, is instrumental in the NCP’s current “perception management” strategy. By publicly backing Arora, Ajit Pawar is sending a clear message to both the administration and political rivals that the party will defend its professional partners against what it perceives as unfounded scrutiny.
January 14, 2026, 02:09 IST
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