FIR against Bhujbal, 5 Others in Maharashtra Sadan Scam

Mumbai, June 8 (IANS): Maharashtra’s Anti-Corruption Bureau on Monday lodged a first information report against former PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal and five others in connection with the alleged multi-crore rupees scami in the Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi.

Besides the Nationalist Congress Party strongman, the others named are former PWD officials, including then sub-divisional engineer Gajanan A. Sawant, then executive engineer Harish S. Patil, then superintendent engineer Anilkumar B. Gaikwad, and department secretaries Sanjay S. Solanki and M.H. Shah, the ACB said in a statement here.

The offences were registered under the relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Indian Penal Code, pursuant to the directions of the Bombay High Court in December 2014.

The Aam Aadmi Party had filed a PIL seeking action in the matter while Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Mumbai Kirit Somaiya had complained to the ACB alleging that Bhujbal, as the then PWD minister, had awarded the contract for rebuilding the Maharashtra Sadan at a cost of around Rs.100 crores to a favoured contractor.

The Bombay High Court had also ordered the the setting up of a SIT, comprising officials from the ACB and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to conduct an open inquiry into the matter.

Somaiya On Monday expressed satisfaction saying the party’s commitment was fulfilled in the complaint filed by him in July 2012 in the matter.