The Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court on Friday rejected the bail plea filed by Nationalist Congress Party leader and former deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal in cases of money laundering against him.
Bhujbal sought his bail on medical grounds. His application said that he had gone through an angioplasty, had asthma and sleep apnea, had diet restrictions, and his blood sugar levels had to be monitored. His counsel had told the court that his age should be considered as a factor to grant him bail.
Judge P.R. Bhavake, however, rejected the bail petition of Mr. Bhujbal after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) objected saying investigations were still on and that he was getting proper treatment in government hospital.
The agency’s lawyer Purnima Kantharia opposed Bhujbal’s bail saying that all the medical conditions cited by him are not new and he has been living with them all throughout. She also said that he has been properly looked after in the jail and has been given proper medical treatment.
Bhujbal was arrested by ED on March 14 for money laundering, siphoning off funds, and causing a loss to the exchequer of Rs 840 crore. It is alleged that Bhujbal, his son, and his nephew, accepted cash in lieu of awarding projects to the contractors, then channelled the illegal cash into various companies controlled by them.
