Special CBI Court Refuses Default Bail To Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh In Corruption Case

A special CBI court on Monday refused bail to former Home Minister of Maharashtra, Anil Deshmukh, in a corruption case related to police transfers and postings.The order was passed by Special Judge SH Gwalani, who also refused default bail to the NCP leaders co-accused Sanjeev Palande and Kundan Shinde on a plea seeking default bail. The NCP leader contended that the charge sheet was incomplete.CBI had registered the FIR against Deshmukh and unknown others on April 21, 2021 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and section 120B of the IPC for an attempt to obtain undue advantage for the improper and dishonest performance of public duty.The FIR was backed by the Bombay HC order, directing the agency to conduct a Preliminary Enquiry into the Rs. 100 crore corruption allegations against Deshmukh that were levelled by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh in his letter to the Chief Minister on March 20, 2021.However, Deshmukh's 'knowledge' of now dismissed Assistant Police Inspector, Sachin Waze's reinstatement in June 2020,is also part of CBI's FIR. Waze is in prison in the Ambani Terror Scare – Mansukh Hiran Murder Case.Apart from Deshmukh, his personal secretary Sanjeev Palande and personal assistant Kundan Shinde are also accused in the case.Recently Sachin Waze was declared an approver in the same case. The NCP leader was first arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in November 2021 in connection with the same offence, but for money laundering offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Anil Singh for the CBI contended that the charge sheet was complete as it contained names of the accused, the provisions under which they were charged, lists of witnesses, articles and enclosures.He submitted that an application for default bail should've been filed before the chargesheet and after the right to default bail accrued.Advocate Aniket Nikam for Deshmukh, had argued that out of the three things the agency was supposed to investigate - extortion from orchestra bars, reinstatement of Waze and transfer of police officers, only the first issue was investigated. Therefore he said that further investigation could be done only when there was initial investigation.

Special CBI Court Refuses Default Bail To Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh In Corruption Case

Sharmeen Hakim

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