Continue probe against Bhujbal: Court tells ED, ACB
23 July 2015 6:30 AM IST
The direction was passed by a division Bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice AK Menon, despite the two agencies informing the court that they have closed inquiries against Bhujbal into five allegations out of total nine, due to lack of evidence.
The court, after perusing the reports submitted by ACB and ED, pointed out that there is scope for further inquiry. The court has granted time to ACB and ED to complete their probes by October 31 and December 31, respectively.
Senior counsel Shrihari <g data-gr-id="30">Aane</g>, appearing for Bhujbal, raised an objection to this and said the court cannot pass such a direction when the agencies have already given closure on five allegations. Of the nine allegations, FIRs have been filed by the ACB on two regarding 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 were 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 on December 18, 2014, directed setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising the ACB and ED to probe into nine different allegations of irregularities relating to money laundering by private companies run by Bhujbal, his sons and relatives.
The direction was passed on a PIL filed by Aam Aadmi Party seeking registration of FIR against Bhujbal.
Suspended DC’s assets worth Rs 56 crore attached
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday attached assets worth Rs 56 crore of suspended <g data-gr-id="50">MHADA</g> Deputy Collector Nitish Thakur in connection with a money-laundering case. “We have attached under PMLA properties and FDs worth Rs 56 crore in a money-laundering case against Thakur,” said an ED official. Last year, the agency had attached his assets worth Rs 53.57 crore. The case against him dates back to March 2012 when Thakur was arrested for allegedly amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.
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