Senior NCP leader Eknath Khadse, who had been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday in connection with a questionable land deal in Pune, has sought and obtained 14 days’ time to appear before the ED, citing health reasons.
Less than a week after he was summoned before the ED on December 30 in connection with the Pune land deal, said that he was planning to appear before the central investigating agency, but he had sought and sought 14 days’ time owing to his sudden indisposition. “Based on the summons I had received, I was to appear before the ED on December 30. But, on the midnight of December 28, I suddenly developed fever, cold and dry cough,” Khadse said in a statement issued here on Wednesday.
“After medical examination, doctors told me that I had symptoms of Covid-19. Subsequently, I underwent Covid-19 and its report is awaited. The doctors have advised me 14 days’ rest. Accordingly I communicated to the ED which has allowed me to appear before it after 14 days,” Khadse said.
Khadse went on to say that once he recovered from his illness, he would extend his full cooperation to the ED in its investigations.
Khadse’s decision to skip his date with the ED came a day after Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut’s wife Varsha sought time till January 5 to appear before the central investigating agency in connection with the PMC bank scam. Sixty-eight-year-old Khadse, who had – while quitting the BJP and joining the NCP two months ago – said that “if the BJP unleashes ED against me, then I will release CDs against the BJP leaders”, confirmed on Saturday last that he had received summons from the ED and he would appear before the investigating agency on December 30.
“I have received the summons from the ED to appear before it on December 30. I will appear before the agency on that day. I have already four inquiries in this land deal. I will cooperate with the ED. As far as my releasing CDs against the BJP leaders, I will do it at a later stage,” Khadse had said.
“The land in the MIDC deal has been transferred in the name of my wife. I have absolutely nothing to do with this land deal. Earlier, the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Pune, the Anti Corruption Bureau, Nashik, Income Tax department and a judicial committee headed by retired Bombay HC judge Dinkar Zoting, had looked into the allegations against me. Now the ED has summoned me for questioning. I will appear before it,” Khadse had said.
It may be recalled that on June 4, 2016, Khadse had resigned from his post as the State Revenue Minister over irregularities in the purchase of a plot of land at Bhosari in Pune district.
The charge against Khadse was that he, his wife Mandakini and son-in-law Girish Chaudhary had hatched a conspiracy and purchased a 3-acre plot of land at Bhosari near Pune owned Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) in the name of his kin for Rs 3.75 crore as against the market price of Rs 40 crore. On his part, Khadse had denied that he had indulged in any wrong doing in the Pune land deal case.
