Mumbai: A special PMLA court on Monday rejected the bail plea of former Maharashtra home minister. Anil Deshmukh (73) An alleged . In money laundering A case was registered against him last year. Deshmukh was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on November 2.
The investigating agency had strongly opposed his bail plea.
The ED had said that Deshmukh has sufficient material to show his involvement in the crime. The probe agency also expressed apprehension that he may influence the witnesses if the relief is given.
The court had taken cognizance of the ED’s chargesheet against Deshmukh in January this year. The ED registered its case after the CBI registered a case against him on April 21 last year under the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly asking former police officer Sachin Vaze to take money from bars and restaurants.
Deshmukh filed for his bail on the ground that there was no evidence against him and said that the trial is not likely to start soon and the ED has “played with the process of the courts and there is a serious encroachment”. Filed through his lawyer, Aniket Nikam, his bail plea states that he “voluntarily arrived” at the ED office on November 1, 2021, on summons issued to him, as permitted. Bombay High CourtWhere he was interrogated continuously and finally he was arrested late in the night. The former minister alleges gross harassment. He said the ED has displayed a “dichotomy” in its stand on the material it has in different courts, to now say that the material is sufficient to warrant his arrest, when in fact, he should be confronted with the documents. And overnight his status-changing question was called for “accused not accused.”
The ED, however, said that Deshmukh also exerted undue influence on the transfer and posting of officers, thereby exerting undue influence on the performance of official duties by the officers. “The applicant (Deshmukh) used to prepare a list of names of police officers for the purpose of transfer and posting in consultation with a cabinet minister. The ED’s reply stated that the applicant himself has admitted to the fact of forwarding the informal list containing the names of police officers and the places concerned to the ACS, Home and Head of Police Establishment Board.
The investigating agency had strongly opposed his bail plea.
The ED had said that Deshmukh has sufficient material to show his involvement in the crime. The probe agency also expressed apprehension that he may influence the witnesses if the relief is given.
The court had taken cognizance of the ED’s chargesheet against Deshmukh in January this year. The ED registered its case after the CBI registered a case against him on April 21 last year under the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly asking former police officer Sachin Vaze to take money from bars and restaurants.
Deshmukh filed for his bail on the ground that there was no evidence against him and said that the trial is not likely to start soon and the ED has “played with the process of the courts and there is a serious encroachment”. Filed through his lawyer, Aniket Nikam, his bail plea states that he “voluntarily arrived” at the ED office on November 1, 2021, on summons issued to him, as permitted. Bombay High CourtWhere he was interrogated continuously and finally he was arrested late in the night. The former minister alleges gross harassment. He said the ED has displayed a “dichotomy” in its stand on the material it has in different courts, to now say that the material is sufficient to warrant his arrest, when in fact, he should be confronted with the documents. And overnight his status-changing question was called for “accused not accused.”
The ED, however, said that Deshmukh also exerted undue influence on the transfer and posting of officers, thereby exerting undue influence on the performance of official duties by the officers. “The applicant (Deshmukh) used to prepare a list of names of police officers for the purpose of transfer and posting in consultation with a cabinet minister. The ED’s reply stated that the applicant himself has admitted to the fact of forwarding the informal list containing the names of police officers and the places concerned to the ACS, Home and Head of Police Establishment Board.