Maharashtra’s former minister Chhagan Bhujbal is facing corruption heat. Maharashtra’s anti-corruption bureau conducted searches on Tuesday at 6 properties belonging to Bhujbal and his family members - including a bungalow with a helipad and 65 acres of land in Mumbai, Thane, Nasik and Pune.

As a vegetable vendor, Bhujbal had humble beginning. But over the past few decades, there have been a meteoric rise in his fortunes and now is being investigated for alleged corruption in contracts worth Rs 100 crore awarded for a Maharashtra Sadan or state guest house in Delhi. He was the minister for Public Works Department in the NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra at the time.

In April, the Bombay High Court had observed that there was evidence of corruption and an FIR can be registered. Accordingly, the police complaint was registered on June 8 against Bhujbal and five others.

The Nationalist Congress Party’s leader has denied any wrongdoing and has accused the state's BJP-led government of politics of revenge.  The High Court's order came on a petition by the Aam Aadmi Party alleging that Bhujbal had favoured one company, Chamankar Enterprises, for the Maharashtra Sadan contract. 

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said there was no political motive behind the searches. "An FIR has been filed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the raids are part of the investigation. The probe is monitored by the High Court and hence, there is no question of political interference. There is no political vendetta," he told reporters.