Anil Deshmukh’s Plea Against FIR: Bombay HC Seeks CBI’s Response
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Thursday adjourned the plea of former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in connection with an FIR lodged against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in corruption charges.
The High Court also denied granting interim protection to Deshmukh from any aggressive action by the CBI.
It has asked the CBI to file its affidavit within four weeks in response to a petition filed by the former Maharashtra home minister. The next hearing in the case will take place after the summer vacation of the court. The high court has directed Deshmukh to move the vacation bench of the high court on the basis of the urgency of his case if needed.
In his petition, Deshmukh demanded the cancellation of an FIR lodged against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation on corruption charges. He also called for interim protection from any aggressive action by the agency.
Last month, the CBI registered a case against him and others under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act (satisfaction other than legal remuneration in relation to a government act) and criminal conspiracy (IPC 120B).
Based on the pleas of NCP leader Jayashri Patil and former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh on charges of corruption, the CBI had initiated a preliminary inquiry (PE) against Deshmukh on April 5 on the high court’s order.
Singh in his letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray alleged that Deshmukh acted with “maliciousness” and asked suspended Mumbai police officer Sachin Waze to collect Rs 100 crore every month.
Waze was arrested in March in connection with the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) probe into the case of recovery of an explosives-laden SUV near Mukesh Ambani’s house in Mumbai and the subsequent murder of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran.
Deshmukh had resigned from his post after the Bombay High Court directed the CBI to initiate an enquiry within 15 days into allegations levelled against him by Singh.
(With Agency Inputs)
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