Bombay HC allows Sunil Karve to file complaint on fund misappropriation by Bhujbals

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court today permitted a former chairman of Mumbai Educational Trust (MET), owned by ex-Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal, to file his complaint of alleged misappropriation of funds by Bhujbal and his family before a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The high court had on December 18, 2014, while hearing a petition by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) directed for setting up the SIT comprising ACB and Enforcement Directorate (ED) to probe into 11 different allegations of irregularities relating to money laundering by private companies run by Bhujbal, his sons and relatives.

Sunil Karve had earlier filed a petition seeking CBI inquiry against Bhujbal and his family for alleged misappropriation of funds and misuse of trust property up to Rs 177 crore.

Karve's advocate Rizwan Merchant today sought a division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice A K Menon to tag this petition along with AAP's petition.

The court directed Maharashtra government to file its affidavit in reply to this. The court also said that Karve can appear before the SIT and lodge his complaint and provide all material evidence.

In June, ACB had registered two FIRs against NCP leader Bhujbal and his family members in the Maharashtra Sadan scam and Kalina land grabbing case.

Another case has been registered by the Navi Mumbai police concerning a housing project scam wherein Rs 44 crore were collected from over 2,000 people for houses in a project 'Hex World', promoted by a realty firm owned by the Bhujbal family.