The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Special Investigation Team to submit a final report in the alleged Maharashtra Sadan scam and other allegations of money laundering against former Maharashtra Minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal within two months.
The SIT, comprising the State Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Enforcement Directorate will file a complete probe report on alleged kickbacks received by Mr. Bhujbal, his kin and bogus partners through a maze of companies. A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice AK Menon also directed the agencies to file a preliminary report by July 20 on allegations of corruption related to national highway and other development projects. The next hearing is on July 22.
Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, representing the probe agencies informed the court that the ACB has filed two FIRs against Mr. Bhujbal and his family members. One other FIR was filed by the Taloja police station in Navi Mumbai in a housing project involving a company of Mr. Bhujbal's son Pankaj Bhujbal. In addition, ED has filed two Enforcement Case Information Reports (ECIRs) against Mr. Bhujbal and his family under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Mr. Singh also told the court that investigations had found links with companies in locations outside Maharashtra and the money trail also involved overseas transactions, namely money coming from Singapore. On Thursday, the ACB submitted a preliminary inquiry report to the court. The court was hearing a PIL by Aam Aadmi Party. The party has alleged that Mr. Bhujbal’s family members received kickbacks after awarding construction contracts, including the construction of the new Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi, and sums of money were credited to the account of Bhujbal Charitable Trust.
