In a major victory for senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, a special court in Mumbai has discharged him from the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) money laundering case linked to the Maharashtra Sadan scam. This comes after the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) had already given him relief in the predicate offense.
Judge Satyanarayan Nawandar of the special court approved the discharge applications of Bhujbal and other accused, ruling that without a valid underlying crime, the ED’s case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cannot stand. The court dismissed the ED’s proceedings outright.
The saga dates back to 2005 when Bhujbal served as Deputy Chief Minister and Public Works Minister. Allegations surfaced that he awarded the contract for Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi to Chamanlal Enterprises without competitive bidding, benefiting his family and companies. Probes claimed he received bribes worth around Rs 13.5 crore through shell firms.
ED registered two PMLA cases on June 11, 2015, naming Bhujbal, his son Sameer, nephew Pankaj, and 52 others. In March 2016, after a grueling 10-hour interrogation, Bhujbal was arrested and spent nearly two years in jail from 2016 to 2018.
Legal experts note that PMLA requires a proven scheduled offense as the foundation. With the ACB case collapsing, ED’s structure crumbled. This ruling reinforces that money laundering probes hinge on the root crime’s validity.
Bhujbal’s political career, marked by highs and lows, sees this as redemption. NCP leaders hail it as justice after prolonged harassment. As Maharashtra politics heats up, this could bolster his standing ahead of elections.
The decision underscores judicial scrutiny on enforcement agencies, ensuring actions rest on solid legal ground rather than suspicion alone.