Chhagan Bhujbal to receive home-cooked food in Arthur Road Jail

Chhagan Bhujbal and his nephew Sameer Bhujbal. File pics

Apart from extending the judicial custody of NCP leader and former deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal and his nephew Sameer till April 27, the special PMLA court on Wednesday granted Bhujbal's request for home-cooked food inside Arthur Road jail.

Also Read: Judicial custody of Chhagan Bhujbal, nephew extended till April 27

Chhagan Bhujbal and his nephew Sameer Bhujbal. File pics

The court partly allowed the application filed by Chhagan Bhujbal for home food and medicine. In its order, the court said that home food, mattresses, warm water, nebulizer and a chair and table would be provided to him by jail authorities.

The duo appeared before the special judge, PR Bhavke, via a video link from the Arthur Road jail. Chhagan was seen wearing a spondylitis neck collar and sporting a white beard.

A cop assisted him as he sat on the chair for the hearing. Enforcement Directorate lawyer Hiten Venegaonkar told the court that investigations were on and the custody of the duo was required.

Read Story: ED files chargesheet in Maharashtra sadan case; names Chhagan Bhujbal, family

The special PMLA prosecutor also asked the court to take cognisance of the chargesheet and begin with the proceedings. After hearing the arguments, the court posted the matter for orders till April 20. Bhujbal had filed another application regarding his presence before the Charity Commission for a hearing. The court rejected it and in its order asked for the appointment of a commissioner to record Bhujbal's evidence.

The ED had told the court earlier that it had attached properties of the Bhujbals worth Rs 131.86 crore, while remaining properties worth R708.3 crore were yet to be identified and attached.

On March 30, the ED filed an 11,500-page chargesheet, naming Chhagan Bhujbal, his son Pankaj, nephew Sameer and corporates like DB Realty, Balwa group of companies, Neelkamal Realtors and Builders Private Limited, Neelkamal Central Apartment LLP and Kakade Infrastructure.

The agency has filed two FIRs against Chhagan Bhujbal, his family members and others under the anti-money laundering laws, based on FIRs filed by the state Anti-Corruption Bureau, to probe alleged irregularities in the construction of the state guesthouse ‘Maharashtra Sadan' in Delhi and the Kalina land grabbing case in Mumbai.

- Inputs from agencies