Anil Deshmukh Prime Beneficiary Of The Proceeds Of Crime: ED To Court
Mumbai: Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh is the “prime beneficiary of the proceeds of crime”, Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday told a court in Mumbai PTI reported.
In its remand note, the ED said that the leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) were an “important cog in the wheels,” in which around Rs 100 crore was allegedly collected. The ED also said that the involvement of foreign angles cannot be ruled out.
“Anil Deshmukh has emerged as an important cog in the wheels. It is, therefore, imperative for the investigation to interrogate the accused in custody in order to draw a logical conclusion in the case. The involvement of foreign angle cannot be ruled out at this stage,” the ED said in its remand note.
“The accused above named (Mr Deshmukh) has played a very crucial role in the offence of money laundering. He has not cooperated with the investigation. He has not provided the required information regarding the laundering of the proceeds of crime,” the agency said.
The ED said that Deshmukh had collected Rs 4.70 crore as a bribe from December 2020 to February 2021 from the then Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Waje, who had recovered the amount from bars and restaurants across Mumbai.
“Sachin Vaze had informed the bar owners/managers that the money collected would go to “No.1” and the Crime Branch and Social Service Branch of Mumbai Police. Thus, it is seen that Sachin Vaze deposited an amount of ₹ 4.70 crores The ED said it was “collected from various bar owners and managers.”
Vaze is currently lodged in Tajola Jail in connection with the Antilia bombing-Mansukh deer massacre.
“He (Mr Wazw) clearly stated that “No. 1 “was Anil Deshmukh, the then home minister of Maharashtra,” the ED said.
“He (Mr Vaze) said that he was called by Anil Deshmukh at his official residence and was asked to collect ₹3 lakh per month from each bar and restaurant. He stated that he had collected approx ₹ 4.70 crores from December 2020 to February 2021 and had handed over the same to Kundan Shinde, the then personal assistant to Anil Deshmukh,” the agency alleged.
Deshmukh used the bribe money through his son Hrishikesh Deshmukh and provided cash to some “Delhi-based paper companies”. The money was then laundered to Shri Sai Shikshan Sanstha, an education trust controlled by the former minister’s family based in Nagpur, the ED said.
Deshmukh, who had been arrested by the agency on Monday night after nearly 12 hours of questioning, had been produced before the special holiday court earlier on Tuesday.
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