Chhagan Bhujbal
Maharashtra Former Deputy Chief Minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party leader Chhagan Bhujbal was granted bail by the Bombay High Court in a money laundering case on Friday.
Justice P N Deshmukh, however, directed Bhujbal who was arrested in March 2016, to pay a personal bond of Rs five lakh to secure his bail.
Justice Deshmukh also imposed certain conditions on Bhujbal's release on bail, including that he will appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED), whenever summoned for questioning.
Citing his ailing health, Bhujbal had approached the high court in January this year seeking bail on the ground that his custody was not required any more as the charge sheet has already been filed.
He has been in jail for nearly two years and two months since his arrest on March 14, 2016 in certain cases pertaining to corruption and money laundering.
After his bail pleas were rejected on at least five previous occasions, Bhujbal, 71, got bail on Friday on various grounds including his frail health and advanced age.
The senior OBC leader who is an aggressive force in state politics is expected to walk out of custody later this evening after completing the bail formalities, said his lawyers shortly after the court decision.
NCP leaders Ajit Pawar and MP Supriya Sule-Pawar welcomed the development while thousands of Bhujbal supporters erupted in celebrations with fireworks and distribution of sweets.
