Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh Arrested In Money Laundering Case
Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate has arrested former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh after questioning him for 12 hours in connection with a money laundering and corruption case.
Deshmukh, 71, was arrested under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and officials claimed that the senior NCP leader was evasive during interrogation.
The ED will seek his custody after producing him in a local court today. Meanwhile, Deshmukh’s lawyer has said that he will oppose his ED remand before the court.
Deshmukh’s lawyer Inderpal Singh told reporters, “We cooperated in the investigation of a case involving Rs 4.5 crore. Today, when he is produced in the court, we will oppose his (Anil Deshmukh) remand.”
Meanwhile, Deshmukh has been taken to the hospital for a medical test.
The NCP leader had appeared before the agency last week after the Bombay High Court refused to quash the ED’s summons against him after issuing at least five notices.
Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, in his letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, alleged that Deshmukh had asked sacked assistant inspector Sachin Waje to extort over Rs 100 crore per month from bars and restaurants in Mumbai.
Rejecting his belief, Deshmukh said Singh had created a reason against him after he was removed from the post.
Deshmukh has alleged that a false narrative is being created by “vested interests” that he is avoiding appearing before the ED. He has also demanded a transparent, fair and objective investigation of the case without any fear or favour.
Earlier, in his statement to the ED, Vaze alleged that the former Maharashtra minister had demanded Rs 2 crore to persuade Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar for his reinstatement.
In January 2021, the tainted police officer claimed that he had handed over 5 bags containing Rs 1.6 crore outside the Sahyadri State Guest House and it was collected by Kundan Shinde, Deshmukh’s personal assistant. Shinde has already been arrested.
A month later, he handed over Rs 3 crores in 11 bags. This money was collected illegally from bar owners operating in India’s financial capital.
Based on these inputs, ED attached assets worth Rs 4.2 crores of Deshmukh in July this year.
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