Chhagan Bhujbal gets bail in money laundering case

Mumbai, May 4 The Bombay High Court today conceded safeguard to senior NCP pioneer and previous Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal in an illegal tax avoidance case.

Equity P N Deshmukh, in any case, coordinated Bhujbal who was captured in March 2016, to pay an individual obligation of Rs five lakh to secure his safeguard.

Justice Deshmukh also imposed certain conditions on Bhujbal's release on bail, including that he will show up before the Enforcement Directorate (ED), at whatever point summoned for questioning.

Refering to his debilitated health, Bhujbal had moved toward the high court in January this year seeking bail on the ground that his care was not required any more as the charge sheet has just been filed.

In December 2017, a unique PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court had rejected his bail plea..

The former state Public Works Department minister was arrested after an ED inquiry revealed that he and his partners professedly abused their office and caused financial loss to the government.

As per the ED, Bhujbal had granted contracts identified with development and improvement works, including one for the development of the Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi, to a specific firm, as a byproduct of kickbacks for himself and his family.

Bhujbal and his nephew Sameer Bhujbal used to channel such cash to illegal companies owned by them, the office had claimed.

Sameer was also captured in the case and is in jail. He has also filed a bail plea in the high court, which has been posted for hearing in June.