Money Laundering Case: PMLA Court Extends ED Custody Of Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh Till 15 November

A special PMLA court in Mumbai on Friday (12 November) extended the ED custody of former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh till 15 November in connection with a multi-crore money laundering case.

He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) early last week.

A special holiday court on 6 November had sent the 71-year-old NCP leader to judicial custody after rejecting the ED's plea seeking extension of his remand.

However, a day later, the Bombay High Court set aside the lower court's order and sent Deshmukh in ED remand till 12 November.

On Friday, the former minister was produced before special PMLA court judge H S Sathbhai, who extended his custody till 15 November.

Deshmukh was arrested by the ED on 1 November after questioning him for over 12 hours in connection with the money laundering case.

Deshmukh had been evading questioning by ED for months and had exhausted his legal remedies, reports Times of India.

ED had raided several places in the last few months to trace Deshmukh, but could not find the former state minister.

Earlier, Deshmukh’s private secretary Sanjeev Palande and personal assistant Kundan Shinde were arrested by the agency for allegedly helping Deshmukh and his son Hrishikesh with money laundering.

According to the ED, Deshmukh, through Shinde, had collected Rs 4.7 crore from (now-dismissed) assistant police inspector Sachin Waze in cash. Waze was then heading the CIU branch of Mumbai police and had collected the money from orchestra bar owners of Mumbai illegally for Deshmukh.

(With inputs from PTI)