Mumbai: CBI raids Anil Deshmukh's home, files FIR against him

Anil Deshmukh

The CBI, which is investigating allegations of suspended Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Waze recovering Rs 100 crore on the orders of former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, lodged an FIR against the latter on Saturday.

Sachin Waze

Deshmukh has been charged under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended by the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018, along with Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code, a CBI official said. The inquiry was conducted following orders of the Bombay High Court to probe the allegations made by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Parambir Singh against Deshmukh.

According to the FIR, prima facie it has been found that a cognisable offence was committed in the case, in which Deshmukh and other unidentified persons were found guilty of improper and dishonest performance, while discharging their public duty. After registering the case, the CBI conducted raids at some places, including Deshmukh's homes in Mumbai and Nagpur. The raid at his Sukhda Bhawan home in Worli lasted for around six hours.

"Some documents and digital devices have been seized in the raid," a CBI official told mid-day. "The CBI [has] conducted a preliminary inquiry into the matter, and is now investigating the matter further by registering an FIR," a CBI official said. "In our searches at four locations in Maharashtra, the CBI seized some electronic gadgets and incriminating documents pertaining to the case. Searches are over for today," a CBI source said.

The source said that in its inquiry, the CBI learnt that Waze, who was reinstated in the police force after being out of service for more than 15 years, was given responsibility for the most sensational and important cases of the Mumbai Police, and Deskhmukh was aware of the same.