ED submits progress report on probe against Chhagan Bhujbal to HC

MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), probing a case of alleged money laundering against former Maharashtra PWD Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, today submitted a progress report to the Bombay High Court.

Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh submitted the report to the division bench headed by Chief Justice Manjula Chellur.

The probe agency also submitted details of properties of Bhujbal and his family members which it has attached during the investigation.

The HC took the report and other documents on record and adjourned the matter to January after Christmas vacation.

In December 2014, the High Court had ordered formation of an SIT comprising ED and Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau officials to probe allegations of corruption and money laundering against the NCP leader, his family members and an educational trust controlled by him.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by AAP and party leader Anjali Damania alleging that private companies owned by Bhujbal, his family members and his employees' family members had received kickbacks of Rs 82.36 crore in return for awarding government contract.

The petition alleged that Bhujbal, as the Public Works Department Minister in the Congress-NCP Government, favoured a contractor in award of contract for construction of the new Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi at a cost of Rs 100 crore.

Bhujbal was arrested in March this year. He is in judicial custody in connection with the money laundering case filed by the ED.