More than a week after his nephew Sameer was arrested by the Enforcement Directroate (ED) in connection with money laundering cases registered him and others, Maharashtra’s former PWD Minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Tuesday vehemently denied the allegations of corruption made against him in the new Maharashtra Sadan and the Kalina plots scams and he was prepared to face any kind of inquiry.
Bhujbal, who had left for Washington to attend the US Congress for a three-day event hours before his nephew Sameer was arrested by the ED, returned to the metropolis from abroad to a rousing reception accorded by his supporters at the city airport.
Addressing a news conference after his arrival, Bhujbal reiterated that he had not done anything wrong and that all the decisions that were attributed to him individually had been taken by a Cabinet sub-committee and that they were taken with the then Chief Minister’s consent.
Bhujbal said that the all the decisions with respect to the New Maharashtra Sadan construction and Kalina plot issue had been taken as per rules. “The Cabinet sub-committee had given approval to all the decisions. I am co-operating with the investigating agencies and will continue to do so,” the senior NCP leader said.
“It takes at least one to two years before a proposal is brought before the cabinet...the proposals were then scrutinised by several departments like law and Judiciary, Finance, Revenue, Home, Urban Development, etc. Once they cleared, proposals came twice to a cabinet subcommittee headed by the CM. How can I be held responsible thenIJ” Bhujbal asked.
Bhujbal’s clarification came on a day when his son Pankaj Bhujbal was questioned in connection with the construction of the new Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi and another case. The ED had seized the passports of both Sameer and Pankaj during the weekend.
Bhujbal said that the ED had filed three cases against my family even though we were given a clean chit by the PWD officials of the present government, and the report was signed by additional chief secretary and the concerned minister.
Alluding to the charges levelled against his nephew Sameer, Bhujbal said: “Sameer had sought time from the agency as he was asked to submit documents related to transactions of the last 15 years. When he collected all the papers, he himself called ED officials and said he is ready to come over and submit them. In spite of this there was a sudden raid and he was arrested,” he said.
Replying to a question, Bhujbal claimed that he enjoyed the full support of NCP chief Sharad Pawar and indicated that even some ruling Shiv Sena leaders believed that he was innocent. Asked if he had received telephone calls from the Sena leaders offering him in his hour of crisis, Bhujbal cryptically said: “Aare kuch bate parde mein hai, parde mein rehne do (let it remain a secret)”.