The Central Bureau of Investigation will be seeking custodial remand to question former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in a corruption case filed against him. On Saturday, a Mumbai court rejected the Enforcement Directorate application asking for nine more days of custody, and sent Deshmukh to prison.
The ED moved the Bombay High Court against the sessions court order. The high court, on Sunday, set aside the lower court order and allowed the ED to question Deshmukh till 12th November.
It is expected that after ED custody of Deshmukh gets over, the CBI will be moving to the concerned court. If permission is given, the CBI will quiz Deshmukh on alleged corruption charges leveled against him and also on the controversial issue of transfer posting of police officers.
In March, the Bombay High Court ordered the CBI to file a preliminary enquiry and investigate charges of corruption that were leveled against Deshmukh by former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh.
Singh alleged Deshmukh first reinstated assistant police inspector (now dismissed) Sachin Waze and then directed him to collect ‘hafta’ of Rs 100 crore from bar owners in Mumbai.
Post the high court order, Deshmukh resigned from the post as home minister on “moral grounds”. A few days back, before the Chandimal Inquiry Commission Param Bir Singh through his counsel submitted an affidavit that apart from his claims in the letter he has no other evidence against Deshmukh.
Two non-bailable warrants have been issued against Singh in extortion cases. Yesterday Mumbai crime branch had also informed a court that on directions of Singh, Waze was extorting money from bookies.
Last week, a “middleman” SS Jagtap was arrested by CBI from Thane. Sources in the CBI said he was arrested for his alleged involvement in the transfer posting of police officers.
Deshmukh’s role in transfer posting is also being investigated. Statement of IPS officer Reshmi Shukla has been recorded. Last December, Shukla had submitted a confidential report to then Maharashtra DGP alleging corruption in transfers of police officers.
On 21st October the Maharashtra government informed the Bombay High Court that the director CBI should be considered a “potential accused” in the CBI probe against Deshmukh.
Seeking a court-monitored probe, the Maharashtra government said Jaiswal was DGP of Maharashtra between 2019-20 and part of the Police Establishment Board which was overseeing transfer posting of police officers. It had asked for a stay on CBI summons issued to Maharashtra DGP Sanjay Panday and chief secretary Sitaram Kunte.
