After a 43-day US sojourn, Sameer Bhujbal, nephew of former Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, arrived in Mumbai late this evening.Sameer is sought by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with the fake stamp paper scam. He didn’t appear before the SIT when he was summoned twice.‘‘Sameer has reached Mumbai and is likely to appear before SIT tomorrow,’’ his counsel Pervez Rustom Khan said. Sameer, who had gone to the US as part of a delegation of the Mumbai Education Trust, arrived at 6.30 pm by a Gulf Air flight via Dubai. He was welcomed by close friends and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supporters.Though he refused to meet the media at the airport, Sameer held an impromptu press conference at his uncle’s official residence in south Mumbai late at night.He told the media that he was in no way involved in the scam and would face SIT questions bravely tomorrow. He clarified that it should not be assumed that he delayed or evaded the SIT deliberately but blamed earlier commitments and heavy snowfall in the US for his delay.When asked of his relations with millionaire Antim Totla, he said: ‘‘He is just my friend.’’ Sameer is alleged to have played an important role in transferring some IPS officers and incarcerated senior policemen during the course of the scam.Though SIT officials were tightlipped about Sameer’s role in the scam, it is learnt they want to tally his statement with that of Bhujbal’s private secretary S.K. Bankar and former DGP Subhash Malhotra. Earlier, Bankar and Malhotra had informed the SIT that most of the transfers came from the Home Department headed by Bhujbal.The SIT had first summoned Sameer on January 5. However, he sent a letter through his counsel urging the SIT to give him time till January 19. The SIT rejected the application but allowed Sameer to present himself on January 14.
