Enforcement Directorate questions Pankaj Bhujbal

NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal addresses his supporters who had gathered at Mumbai International Airport in huge numbers to welcome him. Bhujbal is facing allegations in the Maharashtra Sadan scam. (Photo: Rajesh Jhadav)

NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal’s son Pankaj Bhujbal presented himself in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Ballard Estate on Tuesday where the ED officials interrogated him for more than eight hours. This was in connection with the money laundering case registered against him and others regarding the construction of the new Maharashtra Sadan scam.

According to sources, Pankaj reached the ED office around at 10 in the morning. His chartered accountant accompanied him. He was interrogated by ED officials for more than eight hours where his statement under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was also registered.

A source in the ED said that Pankaj could be called in again for further questioning if the officials need more clarifications in the matter.

The ED officials also conducted raids in two properties of the Bhujbal family in Pune and Mumbai. However, sources from the Mumbai team said that they did not get anything from the raid that could have helped them in the investigation.

The ED had issued summons to Pankaj four times and during the last summon, on Saturday, it had also seized his passport. Pankaj was given three days’ time to cooperate. Only after the arrest of Chhagan Bhujbal’s nephew Sameer, did Pankaj agree to cooperate with the ED officials and visited their office on Tuesday.

“I am ready to cooperate with the officials and help in the investigation,” Pankaj said while leaving the ED office on Tuesday.

According to sources Chhagan Bhujbal may also be called in for the investigation in the Maharashtra Sadan case. Pankaj, an MLA in the Maharashtra Assembly, has been named in the FIR filed by the agency, along with his father and former state PWD minister Chhagan. The ED had twice conducted searches at nine properties, belonging to the Bhujbal family.