Senior BJP leader Dr Kirit Somaiya on Friday alleged that PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal and his family had links with Anil Vastavade, an aide of former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda, who is in the Enforcement Directorate’s remand in connection with a multi-crore money-laundering case.
Dr Somaiya demanded that Mr Bhujbal’s financial dealings with Mr Vastavade be investigated by the ED as his nephew and Nashik MP Sameer Bhujbal had met Mr Vastavade in Jakarta between July 15 and August 1, 2010. “Funds required for acquiring a coal mine in Jakarta was transferred through a hawala transaction. Accused in the Telgi scam, Antim Totla, was also present at the meetings,” Mr Somaiya alleged. He claimed that Mr Bhujbal’s company Armstrong Energy Pvt Ltd, set up with a paid capital of `1 lakh is running into losses of `25 crore. “How can such a company, which is yet to start power generation, purchase a coal mine in another country?” Dr Somaiya questioned.
Mr Bhujbal described the allegations as “false, baseless” and made with an intent to malign his image. “I have never been to Jakarta in my life, even though I travelled to Singapore about 20 years ago,” he said.