Chhagan Bhujbal applies for bail in PMLA court

NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal filed bail application in the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court on Saturday. Sources said that the bail application is on ground of health issues that Bhujbal is facing and some technical grounds.

Former Maharashtra deputy chief minister and senior NCP leader Bhujbal was arrested on March 14 by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with alleged irregularities in the construction of the state guest house ‘Maharashtra Sadan’ in Delhi and the Kalina land grabbing case in Mumbai. He has been in judicial custody in the Arthur Road jail for the past one month.

Sources said that Bhujbal’s lawyer has moved the bail application on the grounds of a “few technical investigation points” and also health issues that Bhujbal is facing in prison. “Their family is really worried about his health and wanted him to get proper treatment. The hearing of the bail application will take place in due course,” sources said.

After Bhujbal was sent to judicial custody in April, he was admitted in the ICU at the St George Hospital after complaining of toothache. After being treated for toothache, he also developed chest pain and high blood pressure, following which he was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate and a shrunken right kidney. Bhujbal was taken to JJ Hospital for a CT scan when it was revealed that he was suffering from prostate problem and shrunken right-sided kidney.

Bhujbal’s Chartered Accountant (CA) Sunil Naik, who was also arrested in the same case, has agreed to become an approver in the Maharashtra Sadan scam.

He has been released on bail. According to the sources, there will be more arrests in next few days in the same case.

ED has filed two FIRs against Bhujbal and his family members under the anti-money laundering laws.

The new Maharashtra Sadan was built at the cost of '100 crore when Congress-NCP coalition was in power in Maharashtra.