NCP leader Eknath Khadse, who had received summons from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) appeared before the agency on Friday morning, January 15, for the first time. The former Maharashtra minister arrived at the ED’s office for recording his statement in a 2016 land deal case.
Khadse was seen entering the central agency’s office at Ballard Estate in South Mumbai around 11 am to appear before ED officials in connection with the land deal of his family in Bhosari area near Pune city.
The leader had earlier sought more time from the agency due to health concerns. ED officials had agreed to give him 14 days to appear before the agency as Khadse was asked to quarantine citing his COVID test results.
Talking to the media outside his home before leaving for the ED office, Khadse, a former BJP leader who joined the NCP last year, said he will fully cooperate with the agency.
In June 2016, Khadse resigned from his ministerial berth in the wake of charges of corruption and misuse of power.
However, he has denied these allegations saying the Anti-Corruption Bureau has already investigated the matter. Khadse said the piece of land at Bhosari in Pune was purchased by his wife and that he had nothing to do with it.
Meanwhile ED has recorded statements of several stakeholders in connection with the case in Pune.
The ED’s probe is based on an FIR filed by the state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in April 2017 against Khadse, his wife Mandakini, son-in-law Girish Choudhary and others. A complaint was filed by Pune based businessman Hemant Gawande accusing Khadse of defrauding the public exchequer in the Bhosari land deal. As per the allegations, the land was purchased in the name of Khadse’s wife and son-in-law for INR 3.75 crores, much lower than the estimated market price of INR 40 crores.
Share
Tweet
