MUMBAI: With the Maharashtra Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) raiding his houses and offices here and in Nashik on Tuesday, former state PWD Minister Chhagan Bhujbal claimed he did not take any decision regarding land transfers in his personal capacity.
“I did not take any decision on land transfers in my personal capacity. All the decisions were taken by a cabinet sub-committee of which I too was a member,” said a nervous Bhujbal. The influential NCP leader, the tallest of OBC leaders in the state, is facing the toughest period of his political career since the ACB initiated action against him in two cases of alleged corruption.
In 2003, Bhujbal was at the centre of a controversy for allegedly sheltering multi-crore-rupees fake stamp paper scam kingpin Abdul Karim Telgi. However, no case was registered against him at that time due to the lack of evidence.
The ACB is probing whether Bhujbal owned properties worth `2,350 crore. It has already registered two FIRs against him in the case of a land transfer to infrastructure giant IndiaBulls and another case of illegal sub-contracts in the construction of the state guest house Maharashtra Sadan.
“Prima facie, there is a case against Bhujbal,” said ACB chief Praveen Dikshit.Bhujbal argued that the entire Cabinet should be held responsible for awarding the contracts.
“I am surprised at the speed of the ACB’s investigation. The government is working with a personal vendetta,” he alleged.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis refuted the allegations. “There is no personal vendetta. The law is taking its own course,” he said.
A senior NCP leader said the ACB action might end Bhujbal’s political career. “If a perception is created against a politician, it becomes difficult for him to come out clean,” he said.
