Ajit Pawar, Sunil Tatkare will spend Diwali in jail, says Kirit Somaiya

MUMBAI: BJP MP Kirit Somaiya today said he stood vindicated following the arrest of Chhagan Bhujbal in the alleged money laundering case and claimed other NCP stalwarts like Ajit Pawar and Sunil Tatkare will "spend the coming Diwali in jail" in connection with the irrigation scam.

"Both Ajit Pawar and Tatkare will soon be in Arthur Road jail, along with Chhagan Bhujbal," the Mumbai North East MP told reporters at Alibaug near here after meeting Raigad additional collector and handing over documents in connection with the 'irrigation scam'.

Somaiya, who had approached ACB when UPA was in power, seeking an inquiry against Bhujbal alleging the latter had parked proceeds of ill-gotten money through shell companies, said the NCP leader had threatened him with a defamation notice on March 11, 2014.

"My charges against him have now proved true. Bhujbal is in jail and justice has prevailed. Bhujbal through his lawyers Desai and Singh had sent a defamation notice to me for accusing him of corruption and money laundering in the Maharashtra Sadan and other PWD scams," he said.

He said the notice demanded unconditional written and published apologies in newspapers and threatened to file a civil suit against me.

"No threat by Bhujbals, Tatkares or Pawars will stop us in our crusade against corruption and getting the guilty punished," the BJP MP said.

The ACB has been probing the role of Pawar and Tatkare in connection with alleged irregularities in awarding contracts for irrigation projects which led to cost escalation.