Bombay HC forms SIT to probe charges against Chhagan Bhujbal

AAP’s counsel said the money received by Bhujbal was concealed and therefore amounted to money laundering.

int(3)

The Bombay High Court Thursday constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe allegations of corruption against former state minister Chhagan Bhujbal. The Enforcement Directorate, New Delhi, and the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) have been directed by the court to form the SIT and file a report by February 28.

After hearing arguments of all parties concerned at length, Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice B P Colabawalla also said if the SIT was unable to finish its inquiry within the stipulated time, it could file an interim report.

The court has also asked banks and other authorities concerned to provide necessary assistance to the investigating team. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has alleged that Bhujbal and his family members received kickbacks in favour of awarding several building contracts to private companies.

Story continues below this ad

AAP’s counsel Anil Anturkar said the money received by Bhujbal was concealed and, therefore, amounted to money laundering.

The party in its public interest litigation (PIL) has alleged that as the public works department minister Bhujbal favoured a contractor M/s Chamankar Enterprises to rebuild Maharashtra Sadan in Mumbai and Delhi at Rs 100 crore. The PIL also alleged that between February 12, 2010 and January 20, 2012, Rs 74.10 lakh was given by Chamankar Enterprises to Ideen Furniture, whose directors are Vishaka Bhujbal and Shefali Bhujbal, wives of Bhujbal’s son Pankaj and nephew Sameer, respectively.

The party, in the PIL, said it had written to the state governor, chief minister, income tax commissioner, director general of the ACB and the chief vigilance commissioner over the issue but no action was taken. The PIL, therefore, demanded registration of an FIR against the minister and his relatives. It also sought formation of an SIT to probe into the allegations made by the party.

Contesting Anturkar’s submissions, Bhujbal’s lawyer Shrihari Aney argued that sanction for the Maharashtra Sadan contract was a state cabinet decision. He said the party should have filed an appropriate complaint with the police station if they had felt aggrieved.

Story continues below this ad

He submitted that a recent judgment of the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court named Bhujbal in addition to other NCP leaders Sunil Tatkare and Ajit Pawar. The presiding bench had then recorded the statement of Advocate General Sunil Manohar, who had informed about Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis giving his nod for a probe against the former ministers.

Aney, therefore, questioned the maintainability of the PIL.

Appearing for the ACB, senior counsel A A Kumbhakoni submitted that a discreet inquiry had been completed as far as allegations pertaining to Maharashtra Sadan was concerned. The lawyer then sought permission to carry out an “open inquiry” to look into 11 points in relation to the allegations.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram