Chhagan Bhujbal gets bail after two years in PMLA case

The Bombay High Court on Friday granted bail to former Maharashtra Deputy CM Chhagan Bhujbal in PMLA case. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, Chhagan Bhujbal served as Deputy Chief Minister 8 October 1999 - 24 December 2003 and December 8, 2008 - November 10, 2010.

In March, a Supreme Court judge had recused himself from hearing a plea of Chhagan Bhujbal challenging a Bombay High Court decision dismissing his petition for bail. Bhujbal had also challenged his arrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The Bombay High Court had in December 2016 dismissed Bhujbal's petition seeking bail and challenging his arrest under the PMLA.

Bhujbal's son and NCP legislator Pankaj and his nephew Sameer are also accused in this case. Sameer was also arrested and is in jail. His bail plea is in the high court, which has been posted for hearing in June.

Bhujbal was arrested in March 2016 in Mumbai by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with its probe in a money laundering case registered against him and others.

The RD had filed two FIRs against Bhujbal, his son and nephew and others under the provisions of PMLA, based on Mumbai Police FIRs, to probe the Delhi-based Maharashtra Sadan construction scam and the Kalina land grabbing case.

(With PTI inputs)