ED arrests former revenue minister Eknath Khadse’s son-in-law

MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on early Wednesday arrested former state revenue minister Eknath Khadse’s son-in-law, Girish Chaudhari in a money laundering case related to a Pune land deal.
The ED called him for questioning on Tuesday and after several hours of questioning till late Tuesday, they decided to arrest him in the case as he refused to provide some crucial details.
Khadse is also an accused in the case. In January, the ED had recorded Khadse’s statement in the case.
In 2016, it was alleged that when Khadse was revenue minister in Devendra Fadnavis led BJP-Shiv Sena government he had misused his position by influencing government officials for purchasing 3.1 acres MIDC plot at Bhosari in Pune at a throwaway price of Rs 3.75 crore as against the value of Rs 31.01 crore. Last year, he joined NCP.
The plot originally belonged to Abbas Ukani from whom the MIDC had acquired it in 1971, though the issue of compensation to Abbas Ukanis remains a matter of dispute in court. Khadse took a personal interest in convening a meeting of revenue, MIDC and land acquisition officials on April 12, 2016, and directed them to take a quick decision on whether to return the land to the Ukanis or give them a higher compensation under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act. A fortnight later, the Ukanis executed the sale deed in favour of Khadse’s wife and son-in-law.
A builder filed a complaint against Khadse for adopting corrupt practices in the land deal and after the controversy, he had stepped down from the post of the minister.
In 2017, on the direction of the Bombay High Court, the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) had registered an FIR against Khadse, his wife Mandakini and son-in-law Girish Chaudhari in the land deal. The ACB booked them under the Prevention of Corruption Act for criminal misconduct by a public servant for obtaining pecuniary gains.
Earlier, Khadse maintained that the state ACB and Income Tax department had found no irregularities in the transactions. Afterwards, based on the ACB case, the ED also registered a money laundering case for an investigation.
Khadse had differences with senior BJP leaders in the state for a long time. Khadse left the party in 2020 and joined the NCP.