Nirupam raises doubts over Uddhav land deal for new bungalow; Sena rubbishes it

Congress leader and former Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam on Thursday sought an investigation into the deal for the plot for Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s

Congress leader and former Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam on Thursday sought an investigation into the deal for the plot for Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s new bungalow opposite Matoshree at Kala Nagar in Bandra. The Shiv Sena has rubbished the allegations.

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Nirupam alleged that Rajbhushan Dixit, who sold the plot for Matoshree, has been facing probes by the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate in money laundering cases. “The plot opposite Matoshree and in the close vicinity of Bandra-Kurla Complex was bought just for ₹5.8 crore in 2016. There is possibility of a cash transaction besides the cheque payment of ₹5.8 crore. Such a prime plot could not be sold for such a low price. I am not saying there was anything wrong in the deal, but just drawing the attention of the central agencies to it,” he said.

Dixit is one of the directors of Sterling Biotech, which has been accused of money laundering to the tune of ₹14,000 crore.

Nirupam had opposed the Congress’s joining hands with the Sena in the state. After his removal as the Mumbai unit chief in March 2019, the leader has not been very active in the party’s affairs.