Money laundering: PMLA court extends custody of Chhagan Bhujbal, nephew till May 25

Mumbai: The special court for Prevention of Money Laundering Act cases on Wednesday extended till Aril 13 the judicial custody of NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal and his nephew and former MP Samir Bhujbal.

The duo were produced before the court via video link from the Arthur Road jail here.

The Enforcement Directorate had till March attached properties of Bhujbals worth Rs 131.86 crore, while remaining properties worth Rs 708.30 crore were yet to be identified and attached.

The agency has filed two FIRs against Chhagan Bhubal, his family members and others under the anti-money laundering laws, based on FIRs filed by the state Anti-Corruption Bureau, to probe alleged irregularities in the construction of the state guesthouse 'Maharashtra Sadan' in Delhi and Kalina land grabbing case in Mumbai.

The Bombay High Court, in December 2014, had constituted a special investigation team comprising the ED and state ACB officials to conduct the inquiry against Bhujbal and others.

The ACB complaint names Pankaj and Samir for offenses such as cheating, conspiracy, criminal breach of trust under the IPC, and under the Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act.