Overview
- Special judge S. R. Navander refused to discharge Eknath Khadse, his wife Mandakini, and son-in-law Girish Chaudhari in the ACB’s 2016 Bhosari land case.
- The court recorded “dishonest intention” to cause loss to the exchequer and said Khadse took undue advantage of his position as revenue minister.
- The order highlighted that within 15 days of the land agreement, Khadse called a meeting and directed compensation or return of the plot despite the issue lying outside his portfolio.
- Investigators allege the family bought land under MIDC possession for about Rs 3.75 crore against an asserted value of roughly Rs 31.01 crore.
- The court held that prior sanction was not required because MIDC was not in Khadse’s remit, and it set Dec. 18 for framing of charges with compulsory appearance as a related ED case continues.