Jailed NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal wants to cast vote in presidential polls

Mumbai city news: The court has asked the prosecution to file a reply on his plea, and scheduled the hearing for later this week.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Chhagan Bhujbal, arrested in connection with a money laundering case, wants to cast his vote for election of the President of India.

NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal. (HT File)

Bhujbal on Tuesday approached the special court for Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) seeking permission to cast his vote for the selection process of the President. The court has asked the prosecution to file a reply on his plea, and scheduled the hearing for later this week.

Bhujbal was produced in the court on Tuesday morning when he approached his lawyer Shalabh Saxena to move a plea to execute his right as Member of legislative Assembly (MLA) from Yeol constituency, Nashik district.

“The vote of an MLA is not singular. The value of each vote for the election depends on the population of the state, and the number of MLAs. Bhujbal is listed on number 2,731 in the list of voters, and it is his constitutional duty and right to cast vote,” Saxena said.

Read: Chhagan Bhujbal laundered Rs 291.71 crore, claims enforcement directorate

The application would be argued on June 30 before the special court. Voting for the President of India is scheduled on July 20.

The ED has in its complaint alleged that from 2006, the Bhujbals and their associates laundered money to the tune of Rs4,264.25 crore. The complaint further alleged that the former deputy CM laundered money to the tune of Rs291.71 crore, while Sameer and Pankaj had laundered Rs359.30 crore each.

Read: NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, his nephew living it up in jail with non-veg food, TV, vodka: activist