Mumbai, Jan 23 (NationPress) In a significant turn of events, Maharashtra Cabinet Minister and veteran of the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction), Chhagan Bhujbal, has been declared not guilty by a special PMLA court in Mumbai regarding the Maharashtra Sadan scam, which involves allegations of money laundering.

This ruling also absolves his son, Pankaj Bhujbal, and nephew, Sameer Bhujbal, concluding a legal struggle that has persisted for nearly ten years. Upon hearing the news, Bhujbal indicated he would share his thoughts after reviewing the court’s decision.

The court's verdict comes on the heels of a 2021 judgment where Bhujbal was exonerated by an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court concerning the initial corruption case. His defense team contended that since the foundation corruption case concluded with a discharge that was never contested by the state, the money laundering charges brought forth by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) lacked a legal basis.

Special Judge R.N. Rokade accepted the defense's argument, noting that according to legal precedents established by the Supreme Court, if a person is acquitted or discharged in the original offense, the money laundering proceedings cannot proceed.

The origins of this case trace back to 2005-06, when Bhujbal, serving as the Public Works Department (PWD) Minister in the then Congress-NCP administration, allegedly awarded a contract for constructing the Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi to K.S. Chamankar Enterprises without soliciting competitive bids.

Investigators asserted that the contract, valued at over Rs 100 crore, involved kickbacks received by the Bhujbal family in exchange for favoring the contractor. The ACB reported that the contractors garnered an 80 percent profit, far above the allowed 20 percent.

Following a public interest litigation (PIL) and claims from activists, including Anjali Damania, the ACB filed an FIR in 2015 against the Bhujbals for cheating, forgery, and corruption.

The ED subsequently launched an investigation into the money laundering aspect. In March 2016, Bhujbal was arrested and spent more than two years in Arthur Road Jail, eventually obtaining bail in May 2018 on medical grounds.

A special ACB court exonerated Bhujbal, Pankaj, and Sameer in 2021, stating there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the allegations of kickbacks or procedural violations.

After the discharge, the Bhujbals sought to have the ED's money laundering case dismissed.

Political analysts suggest that this ruling effectively lifts the most severe legal burden from the family's political ambitions.

This acquittal marks a significant political achievement for Chhagan Bhujbal, a key OBC leader in Maharashtra. Arriving at a moment when he plays a crucial role in the Mahayuti government, the verdict dispels longstanding allegations of being embroiled in a 'scam'. Bhujbal has consistently claimed that the legal actions were driven by political motivations and vendetta.