Mumbai Special Court Restores Four Benami Cases Against Minister Chhagan Bhujbal and Relatives

Overview

• Special Judge Satyanarayan R. Navander returned the Income Tax Department’s complaints to their original stage and listed the matter for October 6.
• The proceedings target Bhujbal, his son Pankaj and nephew Sameer, along with three linked firms: Armstrong Infrastructure, Parvesh Constructions and Devisha Constructions.
• The Bombay High Court had quashed the cases on December 8, 2023, relying on the Supreme Court’s Ganpati Delcom ruling on non‑retrospectivity of the 2016 benami law.
• After the Supreme Court allowed a review challenging Ganpati Delcom, the prosecution sought revival under the liberty expressly granted by the High Court.
• Bhujbal’s counsel argued the quashing included merits, but the special court held the relief was granted only on technical grounds, necessitating restoration.