A triumphant moment for Maharashtra politician Chhagan Bhujbal: Mumbai court has fully discharged him from ED’s decade-old money laundering case tied to Maharashtra Sadan irregularities. Echoing ACB’s prior relief, it exposes the fragility of ED’s claims.
In a pointed order, Judge Satyanarayan Nawandar approved discharges, reasoning no predicate crime sustains PMLA proceedings. ED’s case, anchored to a collapsed corruption FIR, was scrapped.
The 2005 controversy brewed when Bhujbal, then Deputy CM, greenlit a Delhi Sadan contract sans auction to Chamanlal Enterprises. Alleged graft of Rs 13.5 crore allegedly enriched his network through proxies.
ED struck in 2015 with dual PMLA cases against Bhujbal’s family and associates. His 2016 arrest after marathon questioning led to two years’ incarceration.
Law demands a live underlying offense for laundering charges. Courts upheld this, dismantling ED’s edifice. Political observers predict Bhujbal’s resurgence in NCP circles.
This high-stakes clearance spotlights PMLA’s checks and balances, cautioning against probes without bedrock proof. Bhujbal’s ordeal ends on a high note, fueling debates on agency autonomy versus judicial oversight.