Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday registered two Economic Case Information Reports (ECIR) in connection with the Hex World residential township project cheating case, the Maharashtra Sadan and Kalina Library scams. The Hex World case is being investigated by the Navi Mumbai crime branch while the other two are being probed by the state Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB).
“We registered two cases against Bhujbal and others under the provisions of PMLA, where the second case pertains to the Kalina library and Maharashtra Sadan scams being investigated by the state ACB. ECIRs can be registered after any other law enforcement agency has filed another case under provisions IPC or any other penal or criminal law,” said an officer from the ED. Investigators said they want to investigate the nature of funding for the Hex World project near Taloja at Navi Mumbai and how the sum was raised and utilised for the same.
The various bank accounts and bank statements of Bhujbal’s son Pankaj and nephew Sameer, along with the financial transaction carried out by their respective families would also be probed by the ED. In the Navi Mumbai case, Sameer and Pankaj had collected 10 per cent of the housing project’s total cost as booking amount in 2010, but started no work for unknown reasons.
A total of Rs 44 crore was collected starting 2009 from around 50 persons for 2,300 flats of the mega-township project. Around 35 persons who had invested in the project approached the Bombay HC, which was also hearing other PILs regarding the Maharashtra Sadan and the Kalina library scams.
The investigation was transferred to an SIT, which included the ACB where the housing project case was handed over to the Navi Mumbai police.
CHHAGAN BHUJBAL OWNS
- 5 bungalows in Nashik
- 12 shops and flats in Mumbai
- Bungalows in Thane, Belapur.
- Flats at Worli, Mazgaon, Churchgate, Mahim, Dadar and Santa Cruz areas in Mumbai.
- 65-acre bungalow with an adjoining helipad in Lonavla, Pune
