Mumbai : The Bombay High Court, on Thursday, directed the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) to complete its investigation in the case involving NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal and submit a final report within two months. The high court also directed the ACB to register cases against those who are involved in the scam and submit report in the next one month.
A division bench headed by Chief Justice Mohit Shah was informed by acting advocate general Anil Singh that the ACB has registered two FIRs against Bhujbal and his family members in the Maharashtra Sadan scam and Kalina land-grabbing case.
Another case has been registered by the Navi Mumbai police concerning a housing project scam wherein Rs 44 crore was collected from over 2,000 people for houses in a project, ‘Hex World’, promoted by a realty firm owned by the Bhujbal family.
The high court had directed the ACB to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising ACB and Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials to probe 11 different allegations of irregularities relating to money laundering by private companies run by Bhujbal, his sons and relatives.
The directive was passed on a PIL filed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) seeking the registration of an FIR against Bhujbal.
“You (ACB) had six months to probe the allegations. The petitioner had submitted sufficient material to start inquiry. All that you (ACB) had to do was to verify the material submitted by the petitioner,” the court said.
“FIRs in three allegations have been filed. Probe into the remaining six allegations are on. A lot of material has been found during the probe involving money transactions from Singapore which includes companies across the country. The ACB in sincerely probing the case,” said Anil Singh.
The court directed the ACB to submit an interim report by July 22 and a final report after the completion of the investigation by August 19.
The court also noted that the ED will also go ahead with its probe expeditiously.
Meanwhile, the ED on Thursday issued summons to four individuals of a Singapore-based firm, in which a company of Bhujbal has invested, a day after the agency registered two cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against the NCP leader.
Plus, the RBI has also written back to the ED saying that the former PWD minister has indeed transferred $5 million (around Rs 30 crore) to an account in Singapore.
The ED has sought information from RBI about Bhujbal transferring money to Singapore’s Export Earning Foreign Currency account.
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‘ACB interested in publicity’
Pawar defends Bhujbal, criticises ACB saying that he himself awaits arrest
Mumbai : Within two days period NCP chief Sharad Pawar took a u-turn and stood to defend ex-minister and his party colleague Chhagan Bhujbal. Breaking his silence over ongoing probe by ACB against Bhujbal, Pawar said that investigators are more interested in ‘publicity’ than conducting a ‘fair’ inquiry.
Two days ago, Pawar told reporters here that he would not speak on the issue of Bujbal as it is a subjudiced matter. On Thursday, Bhujbal met Pawar at his residence.
Bhujbal said that he met his leader to greet him about his victory in Mumbai Cricket Association’s election.
Pawar criticised the ACB over the raids and functioning of the agency. While criticising ACB, Pawar said, “There are some restrictions over the investigation agencies to provide information to the media. Here the ACB is leaking information to the media. The officers are exaggerating the valuation of Bhujbal’s properties to the media.”
“The party will stand by him without interfering in the probe. We would help him in every way,” he said.
“All decisions for which Bhujbal is being held accountable were taken by the cabinet. Cabinet decisions are decisions of the government. The way details of investigations are being leaked is surprising and this is objectionable and not a sign of good probe. Chief Minister should look into this,” he said.
Some BJP leaders are expecting that NCP leaders should be arrested for the alleged fraud. Reacting on it, Pawar said, “All of us, including myself, are waiting to see when this government puts us behind bars.”
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