Maharashtra Sadan scam: HC refuses relief from arrest to Pankaj Bhujbal

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday turned down a plea filed by Pankaj Bhujbal, son of arrested ex-PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal, seeking to quash the non-bailable warrant issued against him by the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court for his alleged role in the Maharashtra Sadan scam.

A division bench of justices Abhay Oka and Amjad Sayed, relying on a previous court order that had rejected relief to other accused in the case and directed them to present themselves before the special court, dismissed Pankaj's application. This means that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) can now arrest him, if required. The court also vacated the interim relief earlier granted to him from arrest pending final disposal of his petition. Advocate Hiten Venegaonkar, appearing for ED, informed the court that at present Pankaj was absconding and his whereabouts were not known to the agency. The ED has already arrested Chhagan and Sameer Bhujbal; both are in judicial custody.

The special court had in April issued non-bailable warrants against several people under the PMLA. The ED has alleged that the Bhujbals received kickbacks in awarding the Sadan contract to the tune of Rs 870 crore, which they parked into shell companies abroad and in India.