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  ‘Whistleblower’ in Chhagan Bhujbal case gets bail

‘Whistleblower’ in Chhagan Bhujbal case gets bail

AGE CORRESPONDENT
Published : May 6, 2016, 6:13 am IST
Updated : May 6, 2016, 6:13 am IST

The special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court on Thursday granted bail on personal bond to former deputy chief minister of Maharashtra Chhagan Bhujbal’s associate and chartered accountan

The special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court on Thursday granted bail on personal bond to former deputy chief minister of Maharashtra Chhagan Bhujbal’s associate and chartered accountant Sunil Naik after he contended before the court that earlier the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has shown him as a witness in the case but later arrested him.

“Your (ED’s) case rests on my statement, as per order passed by this court on February 2, Naik’s name is in the list of witnesses. But later the ED issued list of accused which had his name and the court took cognisance of it so issued non-bailable warrant and on that basis they arrested him,” said senior advocate Rizwan Merchant on behalf of Naik.

He also argued that why should Naik suffer for ED’s mistake. “They made a mistake of including his name in list of accused and now they are opposing his bail application also. If you (ED) would do this to witnesses than who would support it ” added advocate Merchant.

Naik was the CA at Bhujbal-owned Mumbai Education Trust (MET) at Bandra. He was one of the key people who exposed the modus operandi of former minister Chhagan Bhujbal and his nephew Sameer in the money laundering case connected with Maharashtra Sadan scam.

Last week, special PMLA judge P.R. Bhavake had issued warrants against NCP leader and Chhagan’s son Pankaj and 28 others. Naik’s name was there in the list and hence the ED arrested him and produced him in court on Thursday the judge had remanded him to judicial custody.

When Naik’s lawyer sought bail for him, the ED counsel Hiten Venegaonkar sought time to a file reply but advocate Merchant requested the court not to send him to jail to stay with other accused of this case. Naik is a whistleblower claimed his lawyer. Seeking Naik’s bail he also said that he exposed these people and now the ED wants him to stay with the other accused in jail.

After hearing arguments the court granted Naik bail. In the meantime, the court also reserved order on the application filed by another accused, managing director of DB Realty, Vinodkumar Goenka, seeking cancellation of the non-bailable warrant against him.

He has claimed that as per law he should have been served summons first and issuance of NBW is the later stage. Goenka’s lawyer senior lawyer Harshad Ponda told the court that his client is ready to appear before the court and also cooperate with ED, however he requested the court to first cancel NBW issued against him. On the other hand ED objected to his plea saying he has not come before the court personally so his application should not be heard.

After hearing arguments the court reserved order till Friday on his plea.

The ED is probing Chhagan Bhujbal, and his nephews in the case concerning a contract that Bhujbal allegedly gave a builder in 2005 without inviting tenders, when he was state PWD minister. Around `870 crore was generated from the deal afterwards and the ED is trying to trace the money.