Former home minister Anil Deshmukh sent to judicial custody for 14 days; lawyers likely to move for bail
Anil Deshmukh and Sachin Waze
Dismissed police officer Sachin Waze, arrested in an extortion case, was produced in the court on Saturday. The crime branch sought seven-day police remand, which was not opposed by Waze’s lawyers. The police told the court that Waze is close to Parambir Singh, former Mumbai Police Commissioner, and they need to question him about Singh, who is absconding. They made an application in the court to record the statement of a witness in this case under CrPC 164, which was accepted by the court.
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The crime branch is investigating the extortion case registered at the Goregaon police station. So far, Sumit alias Chintu Singh, and Alpesh Patel have already been arrested in this case. According to the police, Patel was collecting money on the orders of Waze from various businessmen. Special Public Prosecutor Shekhar Jagtap said, “On Monday, that statement will be recorded.”
A case of extortion was registered against Waze, Singh and others on the complaint of businessman Bimal Agarwal. Waze was arrested in March after the Antilia bomb scare case, where an SUV car containing explosives was found near the residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani. Former Maharashtra home minister and senior NCP leader Anil Deshmukh—arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a case of money laundering—has been sent to judicial custody by a Mumbai court on Saturday for 14 days.
The ED sought an extension of its custodial remand for nine more days, which was turned down. Deshmukh’s lawyers are likely to move for bail in the Bombay High Court. Deshmukh’s son Hrishikesh Deshmukh too has been summoned in the same case.