Court extends ED custody of Khadse's son-in-law

Mumbai: A special court here on Thursday extended till July 19 the ED custody of NCP leader Eknath Khadse's son-in-law Girish Chaudhari in a money laundering case linked to the alleged irregularities in a 2016 purchase of a land plot in Pune.

Chaudhari was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 6 after being questioned at length in connection with the case.

At the end of Chaudhari's earlier remand on Thursday, he was produced before a special court hearing cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The court extended his custody as sought by the ED to probe the matter further.

The ED has alleged that Chaudhari and Khadse had purchased a government land in Bhosari near Pune for Rs 3.75 crore when the actual cost of the land as per the valuation provided by sub registrar was Rs 31.01 crore.

The agency had said it appears that Khadse, who was then the state revenue minister, by misusing his official position, had "coerced and forced" the concerned officials to facilitate the purchase of government land of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) by his family in Bhosari area.