Chhagan Bhujbal: Big relief for Chhagan Bhujbal in Maharashtra Sadan scam, acquitted in ED case too

Senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party and former minister Chhagan Bhujbal has received significant judicial relief in the Maharashtra Sadan scam case. After already being acquitted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), now the special court has acquitted Chhagan Bhujbal in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case as well. Thus, this case, which has been ongoing for many years, has finally come to a complete halt.

Chhagan Bhujbal, his nephew Sameer Bhujbal, and other accused had filed an application in the special court for acquittal from the ED case. While hearing this application, Special Court Judge Satyanarayan Navandar ruled in favor of the accused. “When the original crime (predicate offense) is not proven, the ED's money laundering case based on it cannot stand,” the court decided on this solid legal point.

In the Maharashtra Sadan scam case, the special court had already acquitted Bhujbal in the case filed by the ACB. Subsequently, the money laundering case filed by the ED was based on the same matter. However, since the original crime was not proven in court, the ED's action cannot stand, argued Bhujbal's lawyers. The court accepted this argument and acquitted all the accused.

This verdict has ended the legal proceedings against Chhagan Bhujbal that have been ongoing for many years. Due to the Maharashtra Sadan scam case, Bhujbal had to serve time in prison and his political career was also in trouble. However, now with consecutive acquittals in two important cases, Bhujbal has received significant relief.

Meanwhile, after this decision, intense discussions have started in political circles. While the opposition is raising questions on this matter, Bhujbal supporters have welcomed the court's decision. Notably, the court's observation that “ED's case does not stand without a predicate offense” is expected to impact many future money laundering cases.