A sessions court in Mumbai on Tuesday remanded former member of Parliament Sameer Bhujbal to six days Enforcement Directorate custody.
A sessions court in Mumbai on Tuesday remanded former member of Parliament Sameer Bhujbal to six days Enforcement Directorate custody. Sameer, who was arrested at 1am on Tuesday by the ED, was produced in the court at about 4.30 pm. The ED informed the court that Sameer was the brain behind the web of fictitious companies that were set up only to route the “illicit gains” of former Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal, his son Pankaj and nephew Sameer. The ED also claimed that the Bhujbals have caused losses of Rs 870 crore to the state exchequer out of which Rs 750 crore is yet to be recovered.
The ED has recorded statements of directors and former directors of four companies that had invested money in the companies controlled by the Bhujbals. In their statements, Sanjay Joshi (director of Origin Infrastructure Private Limited), Tanvir Shaikh (director of Niche Infrastructure Private Limited), Geeta Joshi (former director of Niche Infrastructure Private Limited), Nimesh Bendre (director of Devisha Infrastructure Private Limited) and Rajesh Dharap (director of Pravesh Constructions Private Limited) said that though they were the directors of the said firms, the Bhujbals were the main controllers and actual owners.
The ED claimed that all the five persons have deposed that Sameer was the main person, who decided all matters pertaining to the affairs of the companies controlled by the Bhujbals and only he could explain the details of financial transactions of the said firms.
In his statement to ED, Sameer has reportedly shifted all the blame on Sunil Naik, the charted accountant of Mumbai Educational Trust controlled by the Bhujbals. He has told the ED officials that as an active politician, he was not looking after the day-to-day affairs of the group business, which was handled by Mr Naik.
“Sameer claimed that Mr Naik had informed him that all the investing companies were genuine . He tried to shift the blame on to the CA when in fact he has emerged as the main controller and beneficiary of the money laundering activities,” the ED has stated in its remand application made before the special judge P.R. Bhavke.
ED counsel Hiten Venegaoankar, while seeking Sameer’s custody for seven days, contended that Sameer was not cooperating with the ED investigators and his interrogation was necessary to trace the remaining Rs 750 crore of the alleged scam. Mr Venegaokar also informed the court that there are allegations of corruption against the Bhujbals in several cases including construction of the Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi, Central library at Kalina, Nashik highway toll, the land scam in Nashik etc. The ED counsel also contended that Sameer was not cooperating with the investigators and refused to come to the ED office despite three summons being sent to him. Advocate Pranav Badheka, who appeared for Sameer, denied the ED claims and said Sameer was prepared to cooperate. “He has always responded to ED summons and there was no need for his custodial interrogation as the ED has all the documents related to the companies in question. The ED has attached properties of the Bhujbals worth more than Rs 200 crore. But there is no connection of these properties with the ongoing investigation. If they want to recover Rs 750 crore, they don’t need Sameer’s custody for that,” Advocate Badheka said.
However, Judge Bhavke after hearing arguments from both the sides decided that the ED should be given the opportunity to question Sameer in their custody.
The Enforcement Directorate started investigating the case after the Bombay high court on December 18, 2014 constituted the Special Investigation Team comprising the DG of the anti-corruption bureau and director of the Enforcement Directorate to conduct an inquiry into the corruption allegations against former Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal.
Even as the NCP is crying hoarse about political vendetta, the ED counsel told the court that the HC is monitoring the investigation and the ED has to submit a progress report of its investigation in the high court every four weeks. He also pointed out that the ED registered the case against the Bhujbals, in which Chhagan Bhujbal and Pankaj Bhujbal are also accused, on the basis of the high court observation that there is a prima facie case against them.
