Chargesheet against Bhujbal in Maha Sadan scam

The Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau has filed a charge sheet against senior NCP leader and former state minister Chhagan Bhujbal in the Maharashtra Sadan scam. His son Pankaj, nephew Sameer and 14 others are also named in the chargesheet. Bhujbal was PWD minister in the Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra.

An ACB officer said, investigations revealed that the contractor earned 80% profit in the construction of Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi. The rules allowed for only 20%. “The accounts were fudged to show that the profit earned was only one percent,” he said.

The original cost estimate for Maharashtra Sadan was Rs 13.5 crore, but it was later increased to Rs 50 crore. The Bhujbals got Rs 13.5 crore in kickbacks from the contractors.

The firm Chamankar Associates transferred money to Niche Infrastructure and other companies in which Pankaj and Sameer were directors, he said. “Most of the companies floated by Bhujbals are in the name of their employees and used for syphoning off funds. Niche was earlier owned by employees of Maharashtra Educational Trust. Bhujbals later became directors of MET,” the ACB officer said.

“Most of the money was transferred to Niche by Chamankars after getting the project; the money ultimately reached Sameer and Pankaj.” The ACB’s case relies entirely on documentary evidence such as paper trail of fund transfers and bank transactions, he said.