Former Maharashtra revenue minister Eknath Khadse was questioned by the officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for over nine hours on Thursday. The agency had issued summons to Khadse on Wednesday, to record his statement in connection with a money-laundering case related to the Pune land deal case being probed by the agency.
Khadse reached the ED’s Ballard Estate office at around 11 am and left at around 8:30 pm. The agency had arrested Khadse’s son-in-law Girish Chaudhary in the case on Wednesday.
Khadse’s advocate Mohan Tekawde told media persons on Thursday evening, “We have informed ED officials that we will come as and when we are required for enquiry.” He said they have given the agency information and documents pertaining to transactions related to the land deal. “Certain other documents will be submitted within ten days,” he said, adding that Khadse was questioned about the land and was asked to specify his role. “We have cooperated with the ED and will continue to give our cooperation,” Tekawde said.
According to the ED, an ECIR was recorded under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on August 28, 2019 against Khadse, his wife Mandakini, Chaudhary and one Abbas Ukani. This was done on the basis of an FIR filed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Pune, under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act, alleging land grab of an MIDC plot at Bhosari, Pune, and causing a loss to the exchequer to the tune of Rs 61.25 crore by fraudulently entering into a sale deed.
