EOW intensifies probe into ‘Salar Jung family’s Rs 150-crore land gift to Sena MP’s driver’

Speaking to The Indian Express, the investigation officer of the case and EOW inspector Sambhaji Pawar said the EOW received the complaint around two months back and since then an inquiry has been going on into the matter, and that recently the inquiry has been expedited.

As per the complaint filed with the EOW, the three-acre land in question is in the Dawoodpura area on Jalna Road in Aurangabad and is part of a 12-acre land belonging to the Salar Jung family. Shaikh has claimed he knows the Salar Jung family well.

The lawyer, however, has questioned as to why would the Salar Jung family give such a high-value land to a driver. Khan also claimed that for the same land, the Salar Jung family fought a long legal battle with the revenue department and claimed it in 2023.

“We are checking the legality of the land transfer gift deed. We have already recorded some statements and have summoned other people concerned, including the kin of the Salar family,” Pawar said.

“We have summoned Shaikh in the past. He told us he would come with some documents but did not turn up again. We again served him summons recently. Similarly, kin of the Salar Jung family have also been asked to remain present for the inquiry with relevant documents,” Pawar added.

The police have so far not registered any FIR in the case and are checking if a cognisable offence was committed.

When asked if the police have recorded the statements of Vikas Bhumre and his father Sandipan Bhumre, the investigation officer said the inquiry is at a preliminary stage and for now they have not been found connected to the alleged irregularities; hence, they have not been summoned yet.

Vikas Bhumre reportedly denied any link of his family with their driver Shaikh’s land gift deed.