Bombay HC directs ACB to file full report against Chhagan Bhujbal

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Thursday directed Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) to file a comprehensive report on its investigation conducted so far in connection with allegations of scam and money laundering against senior NCP leader and former deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, Chhagan Bhujbal. The court has deferred hearing of the PIL, filed by activist Anjali Damania till October 12.

The division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice N M Jamdar was hearing PIL filed by activist Anjali Damania. On Thursday, she filed an additional affidavit before the bench requesting the court to direct Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to look into all the alleged corrupt practices mentioned in a booklet, which is part of the complaint and this PIL.

According to Damaniam, some of the alleged scams mentioned in the said booklet are not covered in the current probe. However, the bench directed the probe agency to submit report about the investigation done so far and deferred hearing.

The high court in 2014 had directed ACB and ED to look into the allegations made in the PIL and take appropriate action. Based on the court directions, the ACB registered three FIRs against Bhujbal and his family members including nephew Sameer, son Pankaj Bhujbal and their associates. Chhagan and Sameer are already arrested and are behind bars and their bail applications are pending before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court. The PIL is still pending before HC and the HC has sought prog-ress report in the probe.