Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Monday extended his indirect support to incarcerated NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, as he said the former State PWD Minister should have been released a long ago and advised the latter’s supporters to launch a “Chhodo Bhujbal” to seek early release of the "tainted" leader.
The MNS chief’s advice to Bhujbal’s supporters came when the latter’s supporters — who have launched “Jodo Bhujbal” agitation in Nashik district in north Maharashtra — met him at his residence “Krishna Kunj” at Dadar in north-central Mumbai and requested Raj to take a stand on the early release of the former PWD Minister, who has been behind the bars for the past
two years.
During his meeting with Bhujbal’s supporters, Raj said he did not want too say much since the matter involving Bhujbal was sub-judice. He however, hastened to add, “Bhujbal was arrested in connection with economic matters. He should have been released a long ago. The investigating agencies do not need Bhujbal’s custody to carry on with their probe”.
“Instead of resorting to Rs Bhujbal jodo” agitation, you should undertake a ‘Bhujbal Chhodo’ agitation. Because mobilising supporters of your leader, you should wage an agitation seeking his early release,” the MNS chief told Bhujbal’s supporters.
Raj’s stand should be seen in the light of the fact that the Bhujbal-led NCP had extended its support to the MNS when it was in power in the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC). Raj’s statement came two days ahead of a special court hearing Bhujbal’s petition seeking bail in the alleged money laundering case.
Bhujbal was arrested by the Enforcement on March 14, 2016 in connection with two money laundering cases registered against him, his nephew Sameer Bhujbal, other family members and associates.
Bhujbals and their associates are being investigated in three corruption cases. Maharashtra’s Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) had filed a charge-sheet against Sr Bhujbal, Sameer and 15 others in the new Maharashtra Sadan scam case in February 2016.
The State ACB on March 28, 2016 filed a second voluminous charge-sheet against him and six others for having allegedly received huge kickbacks to lease a plot of land to a private developer for the construction of a central library at the Kalina campus of the Mumbai University.
Subsequently On March 30, 2016, the ED filed a 11,500—page charge sheet against Chhagan Bhujbal, his son Pankaj, nephew Sameer, corporate houses like D B Realty, Balwa group of companies, Neelkamal Realtors and Builders Private Limited, Neelkamal Central Apartment LLP and Kakade Infrastructure, in the money laundering case.
In the new Maharashtra Sadan scam case in which Sr Bhujbal and nephew Sameer were granted bail on Wednesday, the ACB had filed a 20,000-page charge-sheet against Sr Bhujbal, Sameer and 15 others.