CBI takes custody of ex-Maharashtra minister Anil Deshmukh

Central agency has booked NCP leader in corruption case, plans to confront him with other accused, a few witnesses

Six months after the Central Bureau of Investigation booked former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh in a corruption case, the central agency on Wednesday got the NCP leader’s custody till April 11. Deshmukh was lodged in Arthur Road Jail in a money laundering case. 

In October 2020, CBI had booked Deshmukh for corruption after a preliminary inquiry ordered by the Bombay High Court following serious allegations by former Mumbai top cop Param Bir Singh. 

The agency had sought Deshmukh’s custody for 10 days saying it wanted to take him to Delhi. “The accused may also be required to be subjected to scientific interrogation techniques during his confrontation for which he may be required to be taken over to the CBI Head Office at Delhi. Accused Anil Deshmukh is also required to be confronted and interrogated on the basis of voluminous case records which are available at Delhi and also for want of secrecy, sanctity and security of the records,” said the agency in its remand application to a special CBI court. 

“What special techniques CBI has in Delhi which are not available here? It is surprising when everything happened in Maharashtra as per their case. He shouldn’t be allowed and he is a 73-year-old man with different ailments, cannot travel from one state to another state.” said Deshmukh’s lawyer Aniket Nikam.

While Nikam was making arguments, Deshmukh also urged the court not to send him to Delhi. “I have cooperated every time they have called me.” The former minister said he is in a lot of pain, especially after his shoulder got dislocated due to a fall in a bathroom at the Arthur Road Jail. Deshmukh was first arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case which was registered following the CBI’s FIR.

CBI said the investigation is in a crucial stage and Deshmukh’s custody is essential to unearth the “deep-rooted” conspiracy. CBI said it wants the ex-minister to be confronted with other accused as well as a few witnesses to “root out contradictions on vital facts in their explanations”.

The CBI has also said that the former minister and people associated with him exercised undue influence over the transfer and posting of senior police officers in Maharashtra.

The CBI has already taken custody of dismissed API Sachin Vaze, Deshmukh’s personal secretary Sanjeev Palande, and PA Kundan Shinde in the same case. Both Palande and Shinde were in the custody of a PMLA court in the money laundering case.

03 April
Day till when CBI has Deshmukh’s custody

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