Who Is Bhavana Gawali? ED Issues Fresh Summons To Shiv Sena MP

Who is Bhavana Gawali? The Member of Lok Sabha Bhavana Gawali, after a long gap, has been sent fresh summons from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking her presence for questioning her in relation to the money laundering case. The Shiv Sena MP has been called for questioning at the Ballard Estate office of the ED on May 5.

Her questioning will take place in connection with the case under which her aide Saeed Khan was arrested in 2021. The MP has been accused of conspiring with Khan to convert a trust named Mahila Utkarsha Pratishatan into a company; the conversion is apparently illegal. It was further alleged that former office-bearers of the trust had defrauded Rs 18 crore.

In connection with the case, a few people named her involvement alleging that she kept putting forth false police cases against them to hide her culpability. It was also alleged that she along with Khan had defrauded the trust money. She reportedly did not visit the ED office thrice even after receiving the summons. She cited Parliamentary sessions and health as the reasons for not appearing.

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Who Is Bhavana Gawali?

Gawali has been selected five-time MP from the Yavatmal-Washim Lok Sabha seat, since 1999. She is currently the senior-most person (as in 25 years) in the parliament from Maharashtra.

She was born in the Washim district of Maharashtra on May 23, 1974. Her father's name is Pundlikrao Gawali Patil and her mother's name is Shalinitai. She has done Bachelor in Arts (Marathi) from Amaravati University. Other than being an MP, she is an agriculturist and businessperson by profession.

She has been associated with Vidyarthi Janjagran Abhiyan and Yuva Chetna Manch, under which she has worked on women's rights and justice, counselling youth for their employment and self-employment opportunities. She is also the founding president of Mahila Utkarsh Pratishthan, because of which she is now in trouble.

Her interest lies in social work, national development, and women's awakening, amongst other things. Other than politics, her pastime activities include listening to music, watching films and dramas, travelling and visiting pilgrimage centres. Athletically, she is into table tennis and badminton, amongst other sports. From 1992 to 1993, she represented her university at the University Level Athletic Contest.

Feature Image Credit: Esakal