Archive · 24 Jan 2026
Bhujbal Discharged in Maharashtra Sadan Money Laundering Case
A special court in Mumbai has cleared Chhagan Bhujbal, a minister from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), along with his son, nephew, former MP Sanjay Kakade, and 42 other individuals and entities, of all charges in a money laundering case.
This case was filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in 2016 and involved financial irregularities in the construction of 'Maharashtra Sadan' in New Delhi and a housing project in Navi Mumbai.
Bhujbal was arrested in 2016 and spent over two years in jail until he was granted bail in 2018.
The court's decision to discharge them was based on a previous Supreme Court order and the fact that they were already cleared of charges in a related case by the state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
The prosecution argued that there was sufficient evidence to show the predicate offense was committed, but the defense successfully argued that the accused had been discharged from the predicate offenses, making the PMLA case unsustainable.
Chhagan Bhujbal, his son Pankaj, nephew Sameer, former MP Sanjay Kakade, and 42 other individuals and entities were discharged in a money laundering case under the PMLA.
The case was filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in 2016 and involved financial irregularities in the construction of 'Maharashtra Sadan' in New Delhi and a housing project in Navi Mumbai.
Bhujbal was arrested in 2016 and spent over two years in jail before being granted bail by the Bombay High Court in 2018.
The discharge was based on a Supreme Court order and the fact that they were previously cleared in a related case by the state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
The prosecution argued that there was sufficient evidence to show the predicate offense was committed, but the defense successfully argued that the accused had been discharged from the predicate offenses, making the PMLA case unsustainable.
- Who
- Chhagan Bhujbal, his son Pankaj, nephew Sameer, former MP Sanjay Kakade, and 42 other individuals and entities
- What
- Discharge in a money laundering case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)
- When
- 2024 (specific date not mentioned)
- Where
- Mumbai, India
- Why
- Based on a Supreme Court order and prior discharge in a related case by the state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB)
Prosecution (ED)
Defense (Bhujbal's Legal Team)
Existence of Predicate Offense
Prosecution (ED)
The ED argued that there is sufficient material to show that the predicate offense was committed by the accused, and that each accused had a specific role in the commission of the offense and the layering and siphoning of the proceeds of the crime.
Defense (Bhujbal's Legal Team)
The defense argued that the accused had been discharged from the predicate offenses of corruption and cheating cases, and that the discharge orders had attained finality, meaning there is no existence of a scheduled offense.
- Individuals Discharged
- Chhagan Bhujbal, Pankaj Bhujbal, Sameer Bhujbal, Sanjay Kakade, and 42 other individuals and entities
- Case Type
- Money laundering case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)
- Arrest Year
- 2016
- Bail Granted
- 2018 by the Bombay High Court
- Discharge Year
- 2024
- Related Case
- Maharashtra Sadan scam and Hex World housing project
- Legal Basis for Discharge
- Supreme Court order and prior discharge in ACB case
- Proceeds of Crime
- Approximately Rs 21 crore in the Maharashtra Sadan case and Rs 44 crore in the Hex World project
