Maha: No need to arrest former minister Chhagan Bhujbal as of now, says ACB

Mumbai, Jun 11: Three days after registering an FIR against former state PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal and five others in an alleged corruption case, the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau today said a probe was on into it and there was no need to arrest the accused as of now.

"We lodged the FIR after finding substantial and circumstantial evidences against all accused. We are investigating the matter more precisely as of now. There is no need to arrest the accused as yet," ACB Director General Praveen Dixit said.

On June 8, the ACB had registered an FIR against NCP leader Bhujbal and his five others for alleged corruption in awarding of some contracts.

The other five accused are - Gajanan Sawant (former sub-divisional engineer, PWD), Harish Patil (former executive engineer, PWD), Anil Kumar Gaikwad (former superintendent engineer, PWD), Sanjay Solanki (former under secretary, PWD) and MH Shaha (former secretary, PWD).

The FIR was filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC sections 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery), etc. Citing a recent verdict of Supreme Court, Dixit said in such cases the accused need not be arrested immediately.

Declining the possibility of sending summon to Bhujbal as of now, he said, "We are in the process of collecting evidences through our multi-pronged investigations. When we are done, we will send chargesheet."

"If the need be, then only we would summon him," the IPS officer said.

However, he refused to say when his department would be ready with the chargesheet. Dixit also rubbished allegations that the ACB was going soft on NCP leader Ajit Pawar in connection with the alleged irrigation scam.

"I don't pay attention to such outcries. I am not working here to keep anyone happy or unhappy. My team works here to collect the evidences to be scrutinised in the court of law," he said.

He, however, maintained that all necessary probe related to allegations against Pawar is being carried out.

PTI