Chhagan Bhujbal’s nephew gets bail in money laundering case
MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Wednesday granted bail to Sameer Bhujbal, nephew of former state public works department (PWD) minister Chhagan Bhujbal, in connection with the money laundering case in which the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader himself got bail about a month ago.
Justice AS Gadkari granted bail to Sameer primarily because Bhujbal was granted bail on May 4 in the same case. The judge also considered the fact that Sameer had spent nearly one-third of the maximum sentence (seven years) prescribed for the offences he is charged with.
Gadkari directed Sameer be released on cash bail of ₹5 lakh. He has been asked to meet the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as and when called for and also the Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court.
He has also been restrained from venturing out of the HC’S jurisdiction without prior permission. The ED case, registered against the Bhujbals by the Maharashhtra anti-corruption bureau (ACB) in June 2015, says Bhujbal had granted the construction contract for Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi to KS Chamankar and Enterprises for illegal gratifications, which they laundered through 30 to 40 shell companies.
Sameer had approached the HC seeking enlargement of bail and contended that he cannot be imprisoned indefinitely as charges were yet to be framed against him. Besides, the large number of witnesses and accused implied the trial would last long, he said.
Additional solicitor general Anil Singh argued that a notice must be issued to the public prosecutor before granting bail to any person accused of any PMLA offence and bail can be granted only if “the court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing he is not guilty.” Justice Gadkari, however, said the section was struck down by the Supreme Court.