Ex-Maharashtra Minister And NCP Leader Anil Deshmukh Gets 14-Day Judicial Custody In Money Laundering, Corruption Case

Maharashtra’s former Home Minister and senior NCP leader Anil Deshmukh was sent to judicial custody by a holiday court on Saturday in a case of money laundering and corruption.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), probing the case, sought his remand for nine more days, but the court refused the probe agency's plea and sent him to judicial custody.

Deshmukh was arrested by the ED late Monday night after 12 hours of questioning. A court had on Tuesday remanded him in the agency's custody till November 6.

He was produced before the special at the end of his ED custody.

The money laundering case against Deshmukh and others was made out after the CBI booked him in a corruption case related to allegations of at least Rs 100 crore bribery made by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh.

In March this year, former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh wrote a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray alleging that Deshmukh had abused his position and powers to seek illegal monetary benefits. Param Bir Singh alleged that Deshmukh had directed the now suspended police officer Sachin Vaze and others to collect ₹100 crore from bars and restaurants over a month.

Besides, The ED had initiated a probe against Deshmukh and his associates after the CBI filed its FIR against the NCP leader on April 21 on charges of corruption and misuse of official position.

The ED's case is that Deshmukh, while serving as home minister, misused his official position and through dismissed cop Sachin Waze collected Rs 4.70 crore from various bars and restaurants in Mumbai.

Besides Deshmukh, the ED has arrested his two aides - Kundan Shinde and Sanjeev Palande - in connection with the case. The duo are currently in judicial custody.

On October 29, the Bombay High Court rejected Deshmukh’s plea, seeking to quash five summons issued by the ED.

(With inputs from PTI)