The Bombay High Court on Friday granted bail to former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who has spent over two years in jail in a money laundering case, reported NDTV. Bhujbal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in March 2016.
The court sanctioned his bail on the condition that Bhujbal will appear before the Enforcement Directorate for questioning whenever he is summoned.
Bhujbal, a Nationalist Congress Party leader, is accused of misusing his position to cause financial losses to the state government during the redevelopment of the Maharashtra Sadan, the state guesthouse, Hindustan Times reported. It is also alleged that Bhujbal accepted kickbacks through firms owned by his relatives. The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that Rs 857 crore was laundered in this way.
In January, Bhujbal moved the Bombay High Court after a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act court rejected his bail plea. Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act restricts the granting of bail to any person booked for offences under the Act, reported the daily.
Sujay Kantawala, a lawyer representing Bhujbal told News 18, “It’s a great relief. He [Bhujbal] will cooperate with the investigations and visit [the] Enforcement Directorate office as and when required.”
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