Special PMLA Court Extends Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh's ED Custody Till November 15

The Special PMLA court on Friday extended former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh's Enforcement Directorate custody till November 15 in the money laundering case. Deshmukh was arrested on November 2, following over 12 hours of interrogation. On Sunday, the Bombay High Court had set aside a special court's order demanding Deshmukh in judicial custody and order him back in the Enforcement Directorate's. The ED's case is based on the CBI's corruption FIR against Deshmukh wherein Ex-Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh alleged that Deshmukh had asked dismissed cop Sachin Waze and two other officers to illegally collect Rs 100 crore from bar owners every month for him. According to the ED probe, as Maharashtra's home minister, Deshmukh had received atleast Rs 4.7 crore in illegal gratification in cash from various orchestra bar owners between December 2020 and February 2021 through dismissed cop Sachin Waze. The agency firther claims that the Home Minister of Maharashtra laundered the bribe money with the help of Delhi based paper companies by attempting to color it as donation to his trust namely Shri Sai Shikshan Sanstha. Recently, the agency recently filed a prosecution complaint against Waze and 12 others. The ED which had then issued summons to Deshmukh at least five times cited his non-appearance for not naming him in the chargesheet.Arguments By The CounselsSpecial Public Prosecutor for ED Shriram Shirsat sought at least two more days of custody as new facts have emerged.He submitted that dismissed cop Sachin Waze is an accused in the case but is currently in Mumbai Police's custody till tomorrow.He said that a fresh application is filed for Waze's custody. Deshmukh was giving evasive replies and both needed to be controlled with each other, he added.Deshmukh through his counsels Vikram Chaudhri and Aniket Nikam argued that he voluntarily agreed to be in ED's custody before the Bombay High Court to dispel any signs of non-cooperation."I volunteered on my own... Is it fair to even press for the application? It's Clear case of over reaching," Chaudhri said. He submitted that the charge sheet was filed without arresting Waze, the prime accused."I'm a worse man... Waze is a good man. According to them, Waze played key role but was never arrested. He(Waze) is accused only on paper," Chaudhri said.They questioned why Parambir Singh (the complainant in the case) hasn't been summoned."Why hasnt he been summoned yet.. Why hasnt his statement been recorded?," Deshmukh's counsels asked.Chaudhri argued that the idea was to tire Deshmukh out."The country is passing through a phase where choas, anarchy is prevailing.... judiciary is the only saviour the court."Chaudhri said ED seeking for Deshnukh's further custody was proof that all is not fair and just they are just acting with mallice.Shirsat countered them to submit, "Should department turn a blind eye if new facts emerge?"Finally Chaudhri said, "Fourteen days means nothing. If they can call him (Waze, to record his statement) any time...what stops them from calling Deshmukh."After hearing arguments Deshmukh was remanded to ED's further custody till November 15. The Order was passed by Special Judge HS Satbhai.

Special PMLA Court Extends Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh's ED Custody Till November 15

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