Anil Deshmukh is in court for a money laundering case, and the ED wants him held for 14 days
According to the ED, while serving as Maharashtra's home minister, Anil Deshmukh took advantage of his official position and collected $4.70 million from various bars and eateries in Mumbai through discharged officer Sachin Waze.
On Monday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) brought former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh before a special court in Mumbai, where he was questioned in connection with a money-laundering investigation. Deshmukh was apprehended late Monday after a 12-hour interrogation.
A little after noon, Deshmukh was brought before additional sessions judge P B Jadhav, who is sitting over the special holiday court.
Anil Singh, the Additional Solicitor General of India (ASG), is representing the ED before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court. The agency in charge of the investigation has requested that Deshmukh be held in detention for 14 days. The remand will be opposed by the politician.
The prosecution agency had taken the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader to the state-run JJ Hospital in Mumbai for a routine medical checkup before presenting him in court.
After missing at least four summonses, Deshmukh was brought before the ED for questioning. He was interrogated in connection with a $100 million extortion and money laundering case.
According to the ED, while acting as Maharashtra’s home minister, Deshmukh took advantage of his official position and collected $4.70 million from various bars and eateries in Mumbai through discharged officer Sachin Waze. The money was allegedly laundered through Nagpur-based Shri Sai Shikshan Sanstha, a family-controlled education charity.
Deshmukh’s plea challenging the ED summons to appear before the agency was dismissed by the Bombay High Court on Friday.
Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh first accused Deshmukh of extortion, alleging that the NCP leader asked discharged assistant inspector Sachin Waze to collect Rs 100 crore from hotels and bars in Mumbai every month. Following the allegation, Deshmukh was forced to retire in April.
He has denied these claims, claiming that the entire case was built around malicious statements made by a compromised cop (Waze).
Based on a corruption investigation brought against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation, the ED initiated a case against Deshmukh and others (CBI).
