ED conducts searches at Nashik infra firm over Bhujbal link

Officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax department on Tuesday conducted joint searches at the office of an infrastructure firm here and the residence of its head in connection with allegations that it financed certain construction by family of ex-deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, arrested last month in a money-laundering case.

Three teams of ED and IT department started searches in morning at the office of Ashoka Buildcon in Vadala locality, at a toll naka in Pimpalgaon Basawant on outskirts of city and at the house of the owner of the firm, sources said.

Senior BJP leader Kirit Somaiya had last month made certain claims, wherein Ashoka Buildcon had been mentioned in respect to certain allegations levelled against Bhujbal and his family. Somaiya, the MP from North East Mumbai, had claimed to have submitted some documents to Nashik police commissioner in this regard on March 25.

Ashoka Buildcon had said that it neither financed any construction by the family of Bhujbal nor sponsored the then MP Sameer Bhujbal's trip to FIFA World Cup in South Africa.