Money-laundering case: ED questions Pankaj Bhujbal

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday questioned Pankaj Bhujbal, son of senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal, in a money-laundering case registered against him and others in connection with the construction of the new Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi and another case.

Officials said Pankaj reached the agency's office in the Ballard Estate area here and investigators recorded his tatement under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED had issued summons to Pankaj sometime ago and had also seized his passport.

Pankaj, an MLA in the Maharashtra Assembly, has been named in the FIR filed by the agency. Besides, his father and former state Public Works Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, cousin Sameer, other associates and entities have also been named in the FIR.

The ED had twice conducted searches at nine premises, including properties and offices, belonging to the senior Bhujbal, Pankaj, Sameer and a few others.

The agency's action came days after the Bombay High Court on January 28 sought progress reports from the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau and ED in four weeks on their probe against Bhujbal and his family members.

The agency has filed two FIRs against the Bhujbals and others under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), based on Mumbai Police FIRs, to probe the Maharashtra Sadan construction scam and the Kalina land grabbing case.

It has also brought out orders for attachment of three properties with an estimated worth of over Rs 280 crore in the case under money laundering laws.