UNCLE Chhagan Bhujbal is nursing frayed nerves at a Kerala spa far away from Ramtek, his official bungalow whispered to be unlucky for deputy chief ministers. Perhaps burly nephew Sameer could do with sharing some of his godfather’s ayurvedic therapy. The Special Investigation Team’s (SIT) new migraine is getting the elusive Sameer—an education baron and powerful ‘‘backstage influence’’ on his uncle’s political affairs—to fly back from New York and answer a few questions. He missed two deadlines. The many allegations, now gleefully waved by opposition leaders, are murky: Pay-offs in police transfers and appointments, and a suspicious buddy in petro dealer Antim Totla, who’s suspected to be a middle-man for dirty cash transfers from stamp-scam master Abdul Karim Telgi to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). ‘‘The SIT has not yet pre-judged Sameer or used its powers to enforce attendance with punitive action,’’ says a celeb criminal lawyer. ‘‘They are just asking him to please co-operate. So what’s Bhujbal’s problem?’’ Thirty-something Sameer, also suspected for protecting Totla in an alleged fuel adulteration racket, has left behind a high-profile family and lawyers to deny and deny. His legal eagle P.R. Vakil sounds weary. ‘‘What stand can I take till Sameer comes back?’’ he asks. All I have been informed, says Vakil, is that Sameer would return by January 17. ‘‘In all probability.’’ In suburban Bandra, this diploma-holder in civil engineering from a local polytechnic is trustee of a heavily guarded, and massive, marble and chrome campus called the Mumbai Educational Trust (MET). Bhujbal is founder chairman, son Pankaj is also trustee. When this reporter visited, entry was denied beyond the gate claiming the director was absent. With father away, Pankaj defends strong family ties. ‘‘Of course Sameer is an influential partyman. He’s a natural frontman for NCP. That’s all,’’ Pankaj told The Sunday Express. But he’s hiding, Shiv Sena leader and former CM Narayan Rane does not tire of repeating. ‘‘He virtually ran the Home Ministry . then he ran away to avoid investigations.’’ To Sameer—like a son to Bhujbal since his father Magan died when he was a year old—goes family credit for successes like mustering full attendance for an infant NCP’s rally at Shivaji Park in 1999. The family explanation is that Sameer is leading a MET delegation since December 5, to negotiate with NGOs in New York for a ‘‘development project’’ at Vasai. Started in 1989, MET has bloated to an Institute of Pharmacy (1993), Institute of Management (1994), Asian Management Development Centre (1995), Institute of Medical Sciences (1996), Institute of Information Technology (1997) and an Institute of Computer Sciences (2001). The media recluse who loves flashy fast cars, operated from a chamber next to his uncle’s at Ramtek. His business includes tyres and mineral water. At South Mumbai’s Suvi Rubber tyre retreading and moulding works in Mazgaon, ‘‘We cannot give media any information,’’ said the manager, only admitting that Sameer is a director. He also runs Armstrong Pure Water Company, a mineral water bottling company in Nashik. While the SIT can enforce attendance and issue an arrest warrant, his lawyers have pleaded for time till January 19. ‘‘He’ll be back,’’ the family promises.
