Eknath Khadse at the ED office at Ballard Estate on Thursday
Mumbai: A day after arresting his son-in-law in a money laundering case, the Enforcement Directorate on Thursday questioned former state revenue minister Eknath Khadse for nine hours.
The ED may summon Khadse again for further statement after examining the details gathered. The ED had on Wednesday summoned Khadse’s wife Mandakini for her statement, but she sought two weeks’ time, claiming she was unwell.
ED officials questioned Khadse about the Pune MIDC land deal. Khadse reportedly submitted some necessary documents and gave his statement related to the land deal. During his previous questioning in January, Khadse had refused to give any details, saying the deal was done by his wife and son-in-law and he had no knowledge of it.
Khadse’s lawyer Mohan Tekawade said, “We have provided all the documents related to the land to the ED. They need some more documents, which we will arrange soon. We are cooperating with the investigation and will appear before the ED as and when called. Khadse reached the ED office at 11 am on Thursday and while entering the ED’s zonal office at Ballard Estate, he told media persons that the case against him was politically motivated and it started after he quit the BJP and joined the NCP. He had left the ED office around 8 pm.
The ED on Wednesday arrested Khadse’s son-in-law Girish Chaudhary. Choudhary, who took all the responsibility related to the land deal, said that he identified the plot for a business through an agent and took a loan of Rs 2 crore from his acquaintance to buy the plot. But he refused to divulge details about the person who allegedly gave him a loan of Rs 2 crore through shell companies. He also refused to give details of the agent who helped him identify the conspiracy.
Earlier, the state’s Anti-Corruption Bureau registered an FIR against Khadse, his wife Mandakini, Choudhary and one Abbas Ukani alleging loss of Rs 61.25 crore to the government by taking possession of a MIDC plot in Bhosari and entering into fraudulent sale Had it. Deed It was alleged that Khadse, as revenue minister in 2016, pressured MIDC officials to manipulate records and help his relatives buy plots at low prices.
FacebookTwitterLinkedinE-mail
.