The Bombay High Court today granted until June 7 interim protection from arrest to MP Sanjay Kakade, an accused in the multi-crore Maharashtra Sadan scam case, in which former state deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal is also allegedly involved.
Justice BP Colabawalla granted the interim protection the Rajya Sabha member till Tuesday when his anticipatory bail application will be heard by a regular bench.
His lawyer Aniket Nikam argued that Kakade has always been available for questioning by the Enforcement Directorate and that the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court had also cancelled the NBW (non-bailable warrant) issued against him last week.
"While cancelling the NBW, the special court has directed Kakade to appear before the court on June 6. But we fear that he will be arrested on that day or before that," Nikam argued.
The high court accepted the argument and granted Kakade interim protection.
In its first charge sheet in the Rs 870 crore Maharashtra Sadan scam and related money laundering cases, ED had named Bhujbal, his son Pankaj and nephew Samir.
Apart from the Bhujbals, the agency had named corporates like D B Realty, Balwa group of companies, Neelkamal Realtors and Builders Private Limited, Neelkamal central apartment LLP and Kakade Infrastructure besides individuals like Vinod Goenka, Asif Balwa, Sanjay Kakade of Kakade Constructions and others.
Bhujbal and his ex-MP nephew Samir were arrested in the case by the ED and they are at present in jail.
