Frontrunner on the run

UNCLE Chhagan Bhujbal is nursing frayed nerves at a Kerala spa far away from Ramtek, his official bungalow whispered to be unlucky for deput...

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 godfather8217;s ayurvedic therapy.

The Special Investigation Team8217;s SIT new migraine is getting the elusive Sameer8212;an education baron and powerful 8216;8216;backstage influence8217;8217; on his uncle8217;s political affairs8212;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, who8217;s suspected to be a middle-man for dirty cash transfers from stamp-scam master Abdul Karim Telgi to the Nationalist Congress Party NCP.

8216;8216;The SIT has not yet pre-judged Sameer or used its powers to enforce attendance with punitive action,8217;8217; says a celeb criminal lawyer. 8216;8216;They are just asking him to please co-operate. So what8217;s Bhujbal8217;s problem?8217;8217;

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. 8216;8216;What stand can I take till Sameer comes back?8217;8217; he asks. All I have been informed, says Vakil, is that Sameer would return by January 17. 8216;8216;In all probability.8217;8217;

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.

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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. 8216;8216;Of course Sameer is an influential partyman. He8217;s a natural frontman for NCP. That8217;s all,8217;8217; Pankaj told The Sunday Express. But he8217;s hiding, Shiv Sena leader and former CM Narayan Rane does not tire of repeating. 8216;8216;He virtually ran the Home Ministry 8230; then he ran away to avoid investigations.8217;8217;

To Sameer8212;like a son to Bhujbal since his father Magan died when he was a year old8212;goes family credit for successes like mustering full attendance for an infant NCP8217;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 8216;8216;development project8217;8217; at Vasai.

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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 uncle8217;s at Ramtek. His business includes tyres and mineral water. At South Mumbai8217;s Suvi Rubber tyre retreading and moulding works in Mazgaon, 8216;8216;We cannot give media any information,8217;8217; 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. 8216;8216;He8217;ll be back,8217;8217; the family promises.