ACB books Bhujbal son for land fraud

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) here on Thursday filed an FIR against 17 persons, including Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal’s son Pankaj Bhujbal, nephew Sameer Bhujbal and retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Uttam Khobragade in an alleged land misuse case. 

The accused allegedly bought a plot of government land in Oshiwara in the northwestern suburb of Andheri, and constructed a commercial complex instead of the residential project it had been earmarked for. 

According to ACB officers, between 2002 and 2004, Sameer and Pankaj, both Directors of Bhavesh Builders Private Ltd, bought the plot and formed Oshiwara Tulsi Co-operative Housing Society for residential purpose. The society’s members, including chief promoter Prashant Sawant, have also been booked. Co-accused Shirish Shrugarpure, Land Surveyor, Suryakant Deshmukh, Assistant Land Record Surveyor, and MHADA official Suresh Karande, allegedly did not verify the documents.

Five other government officials, including Uttam Khobragade, then Vice President and CEO of MHADA, sanctioned the project.  

“The said fraud caused losses worth crores of rupees to the state exchequer.... The government officials have been given kickbacks and we will be scrutinising their bank account details”, said an ACB official. Khobragade, Sameer and Pankaj Bhujbal, could not be reached for comments.