Maharashtra's Ex-Home Minister Anil Deshmukh Skips Summons By Probe Agency, Seeks Time

Central probe agency Enforcement Directorate or ED arrested his personal secretary Sanjeev Palande and personal assistant Kundan Shinde late last night after it had carried out raids against them and Anil Deshmukh in Mumbai and Nagpur.

Maharashtra's former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh skipped summons by probe agency Enforcement Directorate or ED for questioning today in a money laundering case related to an alleged multi-crore bribery-cum-extortion racket that led to his resignation in April, officials said. He sought more time, they added. The 71-year-old Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader was asked to depose before the investigating officer of the case at the agency office in the Ballard Estate area in Mumbai at 11 am, they said. Mr Deshmukh however, skipped the summons of the probe agency. His lawyers have submitted an application seeking time to appear before the ED. The Enforcement Directorate will consider the application and give a fresh date, officials said.