Anil Deshmukh, Sachin Vaze sent to CBI custody

Former Maharashtra Minister has been accused of extortion and money laundering

A special court in Mumbai on Friday granted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody of former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh, his personal assistant Kundan Shinde and suspended police officer Sachin Vaze in an alleged case of corruption.

The central agency on March 31 had moved an application seeking the transfer the trio’s custody from the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The CBI stepped in after the Bombay High Court on April 5, 2021 directed a preliminary inquiry against the Nationalist Congress Party leader after former police commissioner of Mumbai Param Bir Singh levelled allegations about Mr. Deshmukh giving orders to Mr. Vaze to collect ₹100 crore from bars and restaurants.

Mr. Deshmukh was arrested on November 2, 2021 by the ED and is currently lodged at the Arthur Road Jail. Vaze was arrested on March 13 after a bomb scare outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence and is lodged at the Taloja Central Jail.

The Bombay High Court will hear Mr. Deshmukh’s bail plea filed on merits on April 8. His application states that the allegations of money laundering and extortion against him are based on statements of some persons who themselves are accused of various offence.

Earlier on January 18, a special PMLA court rejected Mr. Deshmukh’s bail plea and noted that: “Prima facie there is sufficient evidence to hold that the accused was involved in money laundering case.”

As per the ED’s chargesheet, “Anil Deshmukh took the wrong advantage of his position since 1992. He made a lot of money and property through illegal means. The illegally earned money was used in 13 companies. These are either owned by his sons or his close associates.”