SIT probing corruption allegations grills ex-MP Sameer Bhujbal

The SIT which is probing the allegations of corruption against former Maharashtra PWD minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal today questioned his nephew and former MP Sameer Bhujbal.
The SIT, which consists of officials of state Anti-corruption Bureau and Enforcement Directorate, questioned Sameer for nearly three hours at ACB's Worli headquarters here and recorded his statement, said an officer.
He was asked to appear again next week.
In December last year, the state government gave nod to ACB's proposal to conduct open inquiry into the allegations against Chhagan Bhujbal in connection with construction of new Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi and two government buildings in Mumbai. The Maharashtra Sadan was inaugurated in 2013.

When Bhujbal sas the PWD minister, the government had entered into agreement with a contractor for construction of the Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi, a state guest house (High Mount) at Malabar Hill here and new administrative building and residential quarters for Regional Transport Office at suburban Andheri on PPP basis.
Bhujbal faced accusations that he awarded the contract for Maharashtra Sadan to an associate, not known to be a capable of executing such projects. The cost of the project had also reportedly escalated significantly.

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya had approached ACB seeking an inquiry, alleging that Bhujbal's friends and family-owned firms were involved in several non-transparent and corrupt transactions, using a web of shell-companies to park the money earned through illegal means.

Subsequent to the new BJP-led government's nod for open inquiry, the Bombay High Court constituted the SIT, in response to a PIL by the Aam Aadmi Party. It is to submit a report by February 28.
AAP has alleged that Bhujbal and his family members, including son Pankaj and nephew Sameer, received kickbacks for awarding contracts.