The 67-year-old politician is facing allegations of impropriety in the construction of the new Maharashtra Sadan. In the past two days, the ACB has conducted a series of raids at properties owned by the Bhujbal family in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Nashik and Yeola.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau is making hyperbolic claims about the value of properties inherited by him with an intention of maligning his image, claimed senior NCP leader and former deputy chief minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Wednesday.
The 67-year-old politician is facing allegations of impropriety in the construction of the new Maharashtra Sadan. In the past two days, the ACB has conducted a series of raids at properties owned by the Bhujbal family in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Nashik and Yeola.
"There is a political vendetta behind all these ACB raids. This is only to end my political career," Bhujbal told dna at his Worli resident on Wednesday evening.
"The size of my flat at Sukhada building is 750 sqft, but the ACB said it is 2,000 sqft. Similarly, they have made exaggerated claims about my Nashik bungalow. It was sold to me by maternal uncle in 1980 at the rate of Rs15,000 per acre. Now, the ACB is saying it's worth Rs100 crore."
Bhujbal, who appeared rattled by the events that have unfolded in the past two days, said the anti-graft sleuths didn't find anything from the raids. "They have given that to me in writing. But, still they told the media that they had recovered items worth Rs100 crore from my properties. These are nothing but white lies."
The NCP leader said most of the properties being mentioned in the media were purchased in the 1980s by his father and grandparents."
The NCP, Bhujbal claimed, is standing behind him. "Pawar saheb had backed me in the recent NCP conclave in Patna. Our spokesperson Nawab Malik and others are defending me, and if required, they will take the protest onto the streets. I am ready for any sort of inquiry, but it should be unbiased. This negative propaganda will impact the on-going court cases against me."
Bhujbal said all these 'so-called controversial' properties were mentioned in his affidavit to the election commission. "We have also been paying income tax regularly. I do not own any benami properties. There seems to be a big plan to end my political career. However, truth will prevail and I will come out unscathed."
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