Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Court Discharges Chhagan Bhujbal in Mumbai University Library Case
A court in Mumbai cleared Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal in an old case.
The case involved land belonging to Mumbai University.
The land was meant to help build a central library.
Investigators said part of the land was leased to a private developer at a very low price.
They alleged that some people received illegal payments and that the government lost money.
Bhujbal and the other accused were discharged by the court.
The court’s detailed explanation had not been released.
This means the final reasons for the decision were not yet known.
A special court in Mumbai discharged Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal in the 2016 case.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau alleged that Bhujbal and others caused major losses to the state government.
The case concerned alleged kickbacks linked to leasing Mumbai University land to a private developer.
The four-acre Kalina plot was reportedly leased for 99 years at Re 1 per square metre.
The court also discharged the other accused; its reasoned order was not yet available.
- Who
- Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, along with other accused, was discharged; the Anti-Corruption Bureau brought the allegations.
- What
- A special court discharged Bhujbal and the other accused in a case involving alleged kickbacks and the leasing of Mumbai University land.
- When
- The discharge order was issued on Thursday, September 24; the case dates to 2016 and the alleged tender process began in 2009.
- Where
- The case concerned a four-acre plot in the Kalina area of Mumbai belonging to Mumbai University.
- Why
- The Anti-Corruption Bureau alleged that the land was leased at an illegally low rate, causing major losses to the state government and involving kickbacks.
Anti-Corruption Bureau’s Allegations
Court’s Discharge Order
Land lease
Anti-Corruption Bureau’s Allegations
The Anti-Corruption Bureau alleged that the Public Works Department illegally leased the remaining land to a private developer at a very low rate.
Court’s Discharge Order
The special court discharged Bhujbal and the other accused; the detailed reasons for the decision were not yet available.
Financial impact
Anti-Corruption Bureau’s Allegations
The agency alleged that Bhujbal and others caused huge losses to the state government and received substantial kickbacks.
Court’s Discharge Order
The court’s discharge meant the accused were cleared in this case at this stage, although the report did not provide the court’s reasoning.
- Accused discharged
- Chhagan Bhujbal and the other accused
- Court
- Special MPs/MLAs court in Mumbai
- Investigating agency
- Anti-Corruption Bureau
- Land involved
- Four acres in Mumbai’s Kalina area
- Lease term
- 99 years
- Reported lease rate
- Re 1 per square metre
- Reasoned order
- Not available when the report was published