NCP leader Eknath Khadse’s son-in-law held under PMLA

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 7

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today said it had arrested NCP leader Eknath Khadse’s son-in-law Girish Chaudhary under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with alleged irregularities in purchase of a piece of government land in Pune in 2016.

Agency officials said Chaudhary was arrested on Tuesday night after being questioned at length in the case at the ED office in south Mumbai. They alleged that Chaudhary was not cooperative during the questioning.

Khadse (68) had left the BJP to join the NCP last year.

The ED registered a PMLA case after perusing a Pune police anti-corruption bureau (ACB) FIR filed against Khadse, his wife Mandakini and Chaudhary in 2017.

Khadse was earlier questioned in the case by the ED this year and his statements were recorded.

Khadse, the then state revenue minister, had resigned from the then BJP government in Maharashtra led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in 2016 after facing allegations in connection with the land deal and some other issues.