Bombay HC orders SIT probe against Bhujbal, kin

December 18, 2014 09:16 pm | Updated November 16, 2021 11:38 pm IST - MUMBAI:

NCP leader and former Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal. File photo: Vivek Bendre

NCP leader and former Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal. File photo: Vivek Bendre

Taking into account the "seriousness of allegations" against NCP leader and former Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, the Bombay High Court on Thursday ordered formation of a Special Inquiry Team to probe corruption and money laundering charges against the politician, his family members and employees of his educational trust. 

The SIT team comprising Director of Enforcement Directorate and Director General of Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), will have to investigate contracts which led to transfer of more than Rs. One crore to private companies owned by the Bhujbals, their employees and the employees' family members. The agencies have been given time till February 28, 2015, to submit their report.

The division bench headed by Chief Justice Mohit Shah was hearing a PIL filed by the Aam Aadmi Party, which has claimed kickbacks were paid to private companies owned by Mr. Bhujbal, his family members and his employees' family members to the tune of Rs. 82.36 crore.

The court said it needed to take up the matter as "no steps were taken for more than one year (after the allegations were made). After the filing of the PIL, the State Government has chosen to start an inquiry in the month of December (2014). This appears to be a fit case for the Director of Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act to constitute a special inquiry team," Justice Shah said.

He further directed, "We direct the DG, ACB and the Director of ED to conduct an inquiry and submit a report about the complaints where the petitioners have given specific references of specific contracts to some contractors. (In these references) amounts were deposited in the private companies of Mr. Bhujbal, his family members and the family members of the employees of Mumbai Education Trust (MET)."

The court directed all the authorities concerned to co-operate with the SIT. In case the SIT fails to submit its final report by February 28, 2015, it has been directed to submit an interim report by then. 

Just this month, the Government had announced an open inquiry against Mr. Bhujbal and other senior NCP leaders following corruption allegations made against them. On Thursday, senior counsel Ashutosh Kumbhakoni, appearing for ACB, told the court that the agency will look into 11 specific queries in the open inquiry against Mr. Bhujbal.

These queries pertained to allegations of kickbacks from major firms like DB Realty and Indiabulls. "DB Realty was given contract for construction at MIG Colony in Bandra. The realtor transferred Rs. 21 Crore to Parvez Constructions, which is owned by relatives of Bhujbal family," Mr. Kumbhakoni informed the court.

The court mentioned the allegation that a developer firm owner by Mr. Bhujbal's sons was given funds by another developer who was awarded a contract of Rs. 2907.01 crore.  

The AAP had pressed for lodging of an FIR against Mr. Bhujbal and his family members. But the State Government said it had already sanctioned an inquiry, after which it will decide on the future course of action.

During the previous hearings, Mr. Bhujbal had challenged the maintainability of the petition and had claimed that it was politically motivated.

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