The Enforcement Directorate today seized two assets allegedly owned by former Maharashtra PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal’s firm worth about Rs 110 crores. The buildings in Bandra and Santacruz in Mumbai owned by Pervesh Constructions where Bhujbal and his relatives are directors, were seized by the ED. Last month, the ED attached huge plot belonging to Devisha Constructions in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The firm is owned by Bhujbal’s son Pankaj and nephew Sameer. Sameer and Pankaj Bhujbal were booked under IPC Sections related to cheating, criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and relevant provisions of Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act.
The ED is investigating two money laundering cases against family members of former PWD minister and senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal. The minister is accused only in the Maharashtra Sadan scam.
Earlier the ED had attached property worth Rs 17.35 crore belonging to developer K S Chamankar in Maharashtra Sadan scam. He is one of the accused in the case and closely associated with Bhujbal.
In 2005, the public works department ministry, then led by Chhagan Bhujbal awarded the development rights of a slum on the Andheri RTO land to Chamankar without inviting tenders. Some time back, the Maharashtra anti-corruption bureauh had registered a corruption case against Bhujbal in the RTO land scam after which the ED took registered the money laundering case for investigation. Just two days back Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had clarified that ‘no clean chit’ has been given to Chhagan Bhujbal in connection with the Maharashtra Sadan scam. Fadnavis was responding to reports that Bhujbal has been given clean chit in connection with the scam in construction of Maharashtra Sadan.