ACB opposes Chhagan Bhujbal plea for discharge in Maharashtra Sadan scam case

Anjali Damania told the court that it was on her petition that the “High Court ordered an SIT of Directorate of Enforcement and Anti Corruption Bureau to investigate the charges of corruption” against Bhujbal and others.

The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has opposed Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal’s plea for discharge in the Sadan scam case. ACB has filed an affidavit stating it has enough evidence against Bhujbal and his family members.When the court of Additional Sessions Judge HS Satbhai was about to begin the day’s proceedings on Friday, activist Anjali Damania said she wanted to file her opposition to Bhujbal’s discharge plea. She said she had approached the Bombay High Court in 2014 seeking investigation against Bhujbal.Anjali Damania told the court that it was on her petition that the “High Court ordered an SIT of Directorate of Enforcement and Anti Corruption Bureau to investigate the charges of corruption” against Bhujbal and others.Damania added, “As per the principles of natural justice, Audi Alteram Partem, the Applicants (Damania and CA Sanjay B. Parmar) seek intervention because of corruption committed by the accused persons who at the relevant time was a Public Servant as a Minister of State.”“Our say should be heard before deciding on the matter. This is a fraud of public money and breach of trust by those in power and hence we request that our intervention should be allowed by this court.”The Judge, however, said she could give her material to the public prosecutor and that independently she would not be allowed to address the court.The court will hear Bhujbal’s plea on August 21. On Friday, it heard various other applications like the discharge plea of Bhujbal’s nephew Sameer Bhujbal from the same case.WHAT’S THE CASE ABOUT?The case pertains to a 2005-2006 deal that NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal allegedly gave to KS Chamankar Enterprises without inviting tenders. Bhujbal at that time was a PWD minister in Maharashtra. The allegation is that the Bhujbal family members received kickbacks from the firm. Bhujbal is currently Food and Civil Supplies Minister in the state.In July, Additional Sessions Judge HS Satbhai had discharged five accused and said the investigating officer showed undue haste in filing the FIR, faulted on the assessment of profit of the developer and the implied losses to the state exchequer. It was after the developers got discharged and the rest of the accused filed similar pleas for discharge that Damania decided to intervene in the case.