As part of its probe into the disproportionate assets case registered against senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) team will soon conduct searches at his Mumbai-based pro
As part of its probe into the disproportionate assets case registered against senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) team will soon conduct searches at his Mumbai-based properties which were earlier seized by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) while probing a money-laundering case against him and a few of his family members.
The ACB recently took the ED’s permission to conduct searches on the properties. The ACB has also sought the public works department’s (PWD’s) assistance in valuing a list of assets seized from Bhujbal, a former deputy chief minister.
The ACB had conducted searches at Bhujbal’s properties in Nashik, Pune and Lonavla. Valuation of these projects has been going on, for which the ACB took the PWD’s help as per established protocol, said sources. According to an ACB source, valuation of a Nashik-based farmhouse of Bhujbal, which was searched on August 23, is still underway and subsequently, his other assets will also be valued.
“The ACB had conducted a search at the Nashik farmhouse of Bhujbal and a PWD team was with us at the site to value the worth of the property,” said an ACB source.
“It is an established protocol to avail of the PWD’s assistance in valuing properties under our scanner as they have experts who specialise in valuing different types of articles, including interior decorations and structural assets,” he said.
“The PWD experts help us in valuing a bungalow or an asset completely and accurately,” he added.
The source added that having conducted searches at Bhujbal’s assets located in Nashik, Pune and Lonavla, the ACB will now inspect his Mumbai-based properties that were earlier seized by the ED. “The ACB has informed the ED about our move and also taken permission from it,” said the source. Bhujbal’s Mumbai assets under the ACB scanner include Sai Kunj building, an industrial plot in Nashik, the office of a wine-making private firm, an agricultural plot, a plot of land in Bandra and a residential property in Santa Cruz belonging to Parvesh Constructions, which is owned by Bhujbal’s son, Pankaj, and nephew, Sameer Bhujbal.
Apart from these, two Nashik-based assets, a vineyard and an industrial plot, will also be inspected by the ACB. The ACB had filed a case in May 2016 against Bhujbal and 11 others, including four of his family members, for allegedly amassing Rs 203 crore, which is disproportionate to his known sources of income.
