There was an attempt to harass Anil Deshmukh out of "frustration" as the investigation against him and his family has not revealed anything, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said on Friday as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at the former's properties.

The ED on Friday searched Deshmukh's houses in Nagpur and Mumbai. Deshmukh, an NCP leader, resigned as Maharashtra home minister in the aftermath of corruption allegations leveled by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh.