Deshmukh's arrest politically motivated, aimed at maligning MVA leaders: Malik

Former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukhs arrest is politically motivated and aimed at maligning the image of the states Maha Vikas Aghadi government leaders NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said on TuesdayHitting out at the Centre Malik a minister in the Maharashtra government said scaring leaders by abusing power should be stoppedThe entire action of arresting Deshmukh is politically motivated It is aimed at scaring the leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi Shiv SenaNCPCongress allianceiquest Malik told reportersDeshmukh was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate ED late Monday night after over 12 hours of questioning in a moneylaundering case linked to an alleged extortion racket in the state police establishmentMeanwhile welcoming Deshmukhs arrest former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya said Shiv Sena minister Anil Parab will be the next to face action by a central agencySomaiya who has been asked to appear before the Bombay High Court on December 23 in a Rs 100crore defamation suit filed by Parab said Now we will know where the Rs 100 crore collected by Deshmukh wentAlso read Nawab MalikDevendra Fadnavis faceoff gives drugs case a dramatic turnSomaiya had claimed that Parab the state transport minister carried out construction of a seaside resort in Ratnagiri district without the approval of the environment departmentFresh attacks on Sameer WankhedeMaharashtra minister Nawab Malik on Tuesday launched fresh attacks on Narcotics Control Bureau NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede saying that he was extorting money from Bollywood celebrities and his sister Yasmeen Wankhede was also involvedAddressing a press conference Malik alleged that Wankhede claims to be an lsquohonest officerrsquo but wears branded clothes worth lakhs ldquoOne should always notice Wankhede Burberry shirts which costs more than Rs 60000 His watches of Patek Phillippe cost Rs 25 to 50 lakh rupees and he keeps changing the brandrdquo he saidIn last few days the clothes he wears are worth more than Rs 10 crore How can an officer afford such expensive brands asked MalikMalik also alleged that NCB superintendent V V Singh has a key role to play as far as the extortion is concerned ldquoHe was a corrupt officer and was sidelined before Wankhede joined NCB After Wankhedes entry he was brought into operations and he plays important role in extorting money He V V Singh told my soninlaw during questioning that he wants to buy a land cruiser carrdquo Malik saidWith inputs from Faizan Khan