Continuing its investigations into an alleged scam worth at least Rs 870 crore, the Enforcement Directorate on Saturday seized the passport of Nationalist Congress Party MLA Pankaj Bhujbal, son of for
Continuing its investigations into an alleged scam worth at least Rs 870 crore, the Enforcement Directorate on Saturday seized the passport of Nationalist Congress Party MLA Pankaj Bhujbal, son of former state public works department minister Chhagan Bhujbal. The ED also searched three properties in Mumbai that are owned by the Bhujbal family, and issued a summons to Pankaj to appear before it for questioning. If he does not cooperate with the investigation, he is likely to be arrested, ED sources said.
The ED has already arrested Chhagan Bhujbal’s nephew Sameer in a money laundering case that is part of the same investigation. He is being questioned in their custody. Sources in the ED said that his statements are not matching those of others questioned in the case, and interrogating Pankaj is necessary. He will be arrested if necessary.
Pankaj, like his cousin Sameer, had been issued three summons by the ED since September, but both of them failed to appear before the investigating agency.
The ED has already recorded the statements of several employees of firms owned by the Bhujbals, and claims it has strong evidence of money laundering. Sameer Bhujbal, on his part, claimed he did not know about the wrongdoings of his firms as he is a busy politician. He has blamed his chartered accountant, Sunil Naik.
Chhagan Bhujbal is on a visit to the US east coast at present. He and his party, the NCP, have claimed that they are being made targets of political vendetta. NCP chief Sharad Pawar has called the actions against the Bhujbals “blatant misuse of power”.
