Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh did not appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) today. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had summoned him for questioning in a money laundering case related to alleged bribery and extortion racket worth crores of rupees. The ED had summoned Anil Deshmukh to be present at the Mumbai office of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) till 11 am on Saturday.
According to the information, a team of Deshmukh’s lawyers has reached the ED office in response to this summon.
Anil Deshmukh’s lawyer Jayawat Patil spoke to the media and told that he has sought time. He told that the ED has not given any date today on when Anil Deshmukh will be called.
According to Anil Deshmukh’s lawyer, he has been exempted from appearing in the ED office. Details related to the case have been sought from the lawyer so that Anil Deshmukh can answer the questions of the ED.
Officials said the two will be produced before a special PMLA court in Mumbai on Saturday, where the ED will request their custody for questioning. The CBI had initiated a preliminary inquiry after registering a regular case on the orders of the Bombay High Court, following which Deshmukh and others were booked by the ED.
Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Parambir Singh had leveled allegations of bribery against Deshmukh and the court directed the probe agency to probe the allegations.
Deshmukh had resigned from the post of Maharashtra Home Minister in April following these allegations. He has denied these allegations. The role of Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Waje came to the fore during the investigation into the discovery of explosive material from an SUV outside the Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani. After this Singh was removed from his post. Waaze was also dismissed from service.
After his removal as Commissioner of Police, Singh wrote to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray alleging that Deshmukh had asked Waje to collect more than Rs 100 crore in a month from bars and restaurants in Mumbai. Singh had alleged in his letter that when Deshmukh had asked Waje to recover the money, Palande was also present there. The CBI has also questioned Palande and Shinde earlier. The CBI has registered a case against Deshmukh and others under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) related to criminal conspiracy and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
