Court seeks footage of Pankaj Bhujbal threatening witnesses on premises

The Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Court on Wednesday passed an order for providing Closed Circuit Television Camera (CCTVs) footages of the court premises outside the Special PMLA court room in the Sessions Court to the two applicants who have already applied for being witnesses in the PMLA case of the former PWD minister of NCP, Chhagan Bhujbal.

On May 16, the two applicants, Sudhir Salaskar and Amit Balraj (named and identified as accused in the ongoing PMLA case of Bhujbals) had come to attend the hearing seeking “grant of pardon” under section 306 of CrPC,1973 in the Special PMLA Court in Session.

The duo, Salaskar and Balraj, have shown their readiness and willingness to become approver and for “grant of pardon” the hearing was on May 16, and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the prosecution agency, has also consented by giving a ‘No Objection’ to the application u/s 306 CrPC.

However, the application is being opposed by Pankaj Bhujbal.

Rizwan Merchant, advocates for Salaskar and Balraj, told the Special PMLA court that CCTV footages are sought to prove the charges of threat against Pankaj Bhujbal.

On May,16 the applicants, Salaskar and Balraj, found that in the Special PMLA Court Room no 16, Judge PR Bhavke was not sitting in his chair and therefore they approached the court clerks for marking their attendance.

However, when the two applicants entered the courtroom no 16 they were shocked and surprised that Chhagan Bhujbal and his nephew Sameer were holding a darbar for business associates, colleagues and cronies inside the court room. After marking their attendance Salaskar and Balraj came out of the court room and were waiting in the corridor for their advocates when Pankaj, son of Chhagan Bhujbal, came out of the court room and approached them.

Salaskar and Balraj have complained of criminal intimidation and threat to life at Colaba police station on May 16 stating that Pankaj asked them to leave the premises immediately or face dire consequences. Pankaj is on bail in the case.

“The threat by Pankaj Bhujbal was so alarming that they (Salaskar and Balraj) are now scared of injury and harm to their lives and to their family members,” said Merchant, senior advocate.

Merchant argued in the court that the CCTV footages are essential for filing application for cancellation of bail granted to Pankaj Bhujbal in certain conditions and threatening a prime witness is serious violation of the said condition.

“The CCTV footages would also reveal how courtroom was converted into a Darbar by Bhujbals on May 16,” Merchant told the court.