Former Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal after the Anti-Corruption Bureau carried searches at his offices and residences. (Press Trust of India photo)
With properties across four cities - that includes a 65-acre bungalow with a helipad - the companies of former Maharashtra Minister Chhagan Bhujbal have come under the scanner of Enforcement Directorate, or ED.
The agency has registered two cases against him, booking him for money laundering . On Tuesday, a series of raids were conducted at the properties owned by him and his family across Maharashtra - Mumbai, Thane, Nashik and Pune. A police case already exists against Mr Bhujbal.
The former minister owns five bungalows in Nashik, 12 shops and flats in Mumbai, bungalows in Thane, Belapur. In Mumbai, he has flats at Worli, Mazgaon, Churchgate, Mahim, Dadar and Santa Cruz areas.
The 65-acre bungalow with an adjoining helipad is located in Pune's Lonavla. Besides, he has another flat in the city.
Mr Bhujbal -- who reportedly started life as a flower vendor - and his family own a business empire that has stakes in mines, power projects, vine yards and infrastructure.
The PWD minister in the state's erstwhile NCP-Congress government is now being investigated for alleged corruption in the award of contracts worth Rs. 100 crore for the construction of a government guest house in Delhi.
A case was filed against him after the order of the Bombay High Court in April. The court had observed that there was evidence of corruption against. The petition filed by the Aam Aadmi Party alleged that Mr Bhujbal had unduly favoured a company, Chamankar Enterprises, for the contract.
The former minister has denied any wrongdoing and has accused the state's BJP-led government of politics of revenge.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said there was no political motive behind the searches. "The probe is monitored by the High Court and hence, there is no question of political interference," Mr Fadnavis told reporters.
Earlier, Mr Bhujbal's name had been associated with the Telgi scam - the multicrore fake stamp paper scam, whose mastermind was Abdul Karim Telgi. He had been questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation but no evidence was found against him.