Sameer Bhujbal's arrest a vengeful act: NCP

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in a meeting in Mumbai on Friday took umbrage at the arrest of former MP Sameer Bhujbal in an alleged money laundering case, terming it a "vengeful" act.

The meeting called by Maharashtra NCP unit secretary Dilip Khaire was attended by state general secretary Nanasaheb Mahale and party corporators Arjun Tile, Kavita Kardak, Ranjan Thakare, among others, a release said.

"During various raids conducted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials, nothing (incriminating) was found. The raids were conducted with a motive to disturb Bhujbal family," it said.

The members alleged that the ruling party at the Centre and in the state has failed to solve the issues of farmer suicides, drought and increasing crime and was trying to hide its failure by maligning the Bhujbal family's image.

"The Nashik unit of NCP will take to the streets in a show of strength if the ruling party continues to malign the Bhujbal family," the statement said.

Sameer, nephew of NCP leader and former Maharashtra PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal, was arrested by the ED on February 1, following multiple searches by the agency at properties belonging to him, Bhujbal, his son Pankaj, and a few others.