MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that a note indicated Eknath Khadse had, as revenue minister, despite having no charge of MIDC, given directions for acquisition of the disputed Pune land and not informed the concerned department. MIDC comes under the industry ministry.
Meanwhile, the ED also recorded the statement of an alleged shell company’s ex-director through which Khadse’s arrested son-in-law Girish Chaudhari (47) raised Rs 2 crore to purchase the land. The ex-director said he used get Rs 25,000 for signing balance sheets and it was just a “paper company.”
The ED made the submissions before the special PMLA court, after which Chaudhari was remanded to the agency’s custody till Thursday. He was arrested on July 7. Chaudhari’s advocate Mohan Tekavde opposed the remand plea and said all relevant documents were lying with the government, hence the question of his custody did not arise. The court allowed the defence lawyer to be present for two hours during Chaudhari’s interrogation.
Chaudhari on July 9 had claimed he had interacted with the company, Ms Benchmark Buildcon’s chief director Om Prakash, while availing loan for the land. The ED in its remand plea submitted and argued by special public prosecutor Kavita Patil said that neither had the ex-director mentioned any chief director by the name of Om Prakash nor did any documents show him holding such a position with the company. Chaudhari refused to disclose details and whereabouts of Om Prakash during his questioning by ED.
The ED alleged the source of funds was not genuine. It said the money was layered and routed through shell companies, which are either dysfunctional or ceased to exist later.
The ED said there are documents from the revenue department which signified MIDC has right over the land. The statement of Pune’s deputy collector stated the land was in MIDC’s possession, ED said.
The ED had alleged that on April 12, 2016, a meeting was held in Khadse’s chamber for acquisition of the Pune land. It was alleged Khadse had given directions to immediately start the process as there “was injustice to the owner of the land”. The ED further alleged that within 15 days, a transaction took place, where only for Rs 3.75 crore, the land was purchased by Khadse’s wife Mandakini and Chaudhari. The land’s government value at that time was Rs 31 crore.
The ED recorded Khadse’s statement last week. While he told ED he could not give directions to MIDC officers as it was not part of his portfolio at that time, however, he was present at the meeting. The ED in its remand plea said it wanted to ascertain under what capacity Khadse was present, so statements of officers present are required to be recorded.
The remand plea said Khadse was questioned about the internal note of Chief Executive Officer, whose subject mentioned it was regarding completion of “Land Acquisition process” of the Pune property. The ED said the note said on April 12, 2016, at 4 pm, a meeting was called by revenue minister in his office.
