MUMBAI: A non-bailable warrant was issued against Mandakini Khadse, wife of former revenue minister Eknath Khadse, on Tuesday by a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act court. It also rejected her anticipatory bail plea, saying it was not maintainable as chargesheet has been filed.
“We will challenge the order in the high court,” said Mandakini’s lawyer Mohan Tekavde. ED public prosecutor H S Venegaonkar had opposed any relief on the grounds that repeated undertakings and assurances given to the court were “flouted by accused persons”.
Khadse and Mandakini have also sought exemption from appearance before the court on health grounds. Khadse was operated on recently and his lawyer submitted his health report to the court. It is stated that he has been suggested a few weeks’ rest. The court will hear Khadse’s application on October 21.
After investigating the illegal purchase of a government plot in MIDC area of Pune five years ago and laundering of the money, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a chargesheet against Khadse, Mandakini, their son-in-law Girish Chaudhari and deputy registrar Ravindra Muley before the special court.
It is alleged that on April 28, 2016, Mandakini and Chaudhari entered into a sale deed for a MIDC plot in Pune. They paid Rs 3.8 crore to the descendants of the original owner of the plot and spent Rs 1.4 crore on registration and stamp duty. The stamp duty was paid on Rs 22.8 crore, which was the actual government price of the land in the record, to avoid any legal issues. Muley had helped Khadse’s kin to manipulate the government records. The government had purchased the plot from its original owner in 1981. The descendants disputed the government ownership after demanding compensation.
