The Bombay high court on Wednesday refused to cancel non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Pankaj Bhujbal, which was issued by the Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA) court.
The Bombay high court on Wednesday refused to cancel non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Pankaj Bhujbal, which was issued by the Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA) court.
The high court also refused to grant the NCP leader, who is also the son of former minister Chhagan Bhujbal, any interim protection from arrest if the PMLA court refuses to cancel NBW on July 27.
Justice Abhay Oka and Justice A.A. Sayed was hearing Pankaj Bhujbal’s petition. The high court had ordered him to seek cancellation of the NBW from the PMLA court. If the PMLA court refuses to cancel the NBW, he can be arrested.
The Enforcement Directorate had filed a chargesheet against former public works department (PWD) minister Chhagan Bhujbal in the Maharashtra Sadan scam and money laundering case, after which the agency issued NBW against 43 persons including Pankaj Bhujbal. According to the NBW, all the accused have to appear before the PMLA court on July 27. While 42 accused filed a petition in the high court, seeking cancellation of the NBW, Pankaj Bhujbal had challenged the same in the Supreme Court.
The apex court, however, had refused to entertain his special leave petition and ordered him to approach the proper court. So, Pankaj Bhujbal moved his petition before the high court.
On the last hearing, Justice Oka and Justice Sayed asked Pankaj Bhujbal to approach the PMLA court for cancellation of NBW.
The court also sought to know from the ED that if the PMLA court refused to cancel Pankaj Bhujbal’s NBW, whether or not the agency would grant him at least two days to approach the HC.
On Wednesday ED lawyer Hiten Venegaonkar clarified that if the PMLA court doesn’t cancel the NBW, the ED would arrest him, otherwise he has to take protection from the PMLA court.
The high court accepted the ED’s contention and rejected the Pankaj Bhujbal’s petition.
