Mumbai Mar 25 PTI The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the Enforcement Directorate ED to file its affidavit in reply to the bail plea of Maharashtras former home minister Anil Deshmukh arrested in a money laundering caseA single bench of Justice Anuja Prabhudessai asked the ED to file its affidavit within a week and posted the bail plea for hearing on April 8The senior NCP leader has sought bail on health grounds and has termed the EDs case as false and frivolousDeshmukh was arrested by the ED on November 2 2021 and is currently in jail judicial custodyThe NCP leader approached the HC for relief on Tuesday after a special court rejected his bail plea earlier this monthDeshmukh in his bail plea filed in the HC through advocates Aniket Nikam and Inderpal Singh has claimed he was implicated by the ED in a false and frivolous case and that the agency was misusing its authorityThe plea further refuted the charges of money laundering and said all alleged transactions cited by the central agency in the case were documentedThe applicant is 73 years old and suffering from various age-related ailments including a shoulder dislocation and hypertension the petition saidthese ailments impacts his immunity level which necessitates his dependence on a constant support and help it said requesting the court to show benevolent indulgence and release Deshmukh on bailThe plea added that the EDs case is wholly based on a statement given by dismissed cop Sachin Waze who is a shady characterDeshmukh in the plea further said the statement of Param Bir Singh former Mumbai police commissioner can also not be relied upon as the state government and the Centre are presently at crossroads and Singh has been warming up to central agencies and hence has been given a safe passageThe special court designated to hear cases related to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA while refusing bail to Deshmukh had noted that there was evidence to show that the NCP leader was actively involved in money launderingThe EDs case is that while serving as state home minister Deshmukh misused his official position and through Waze a police officer who has been dismissed from service after his arrest in the Antilia bomb scare-Mansukh Hiran killing case last year collected Rs 470 crore from various bars in Mumbai The money was laundered to Nagpur-based Shri Sai Shikshan Sansthan an educational trust controlled by the Deshmukh family the central agency has alleged PTI SP RSY RSY

Mumbai Nov 30 PTI Dismissed police officer Sachin Waze on Tuesday told an inquiry commission here that the period during which he was in the custody of the National Investigation Agency NIA in the Antilia bomb scare case was the most traumatic time of his life He had signed various documents during this period under duress he claimed Waze currently being crossed-examined before the single-member commission made the claim while responding to a question by former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukhs lawyer The state government set up the Justice retd K U Chandiwal commission in March to probe former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singhs corruption allegations against Deshmukh On Tuesday Deshmukh an NCP leader also appeared before the commission The former home minister is in judicial custody since November 15 after his arrest in an alleged money laundering case After he was brought before the commission around 12 noon Deshmukhs lawyer Anita Castellino moved an application seeking adjournment She had instructions that the matter would be handled by a senior advocate she said The commission granted adjournment till December 13 but imposed a cost of Rs 15000 to be deposited in the Chief Ministers Relief Fund-Covid 19 within a week But minutes later Deshmukh and advocate Castellino requested that they be allowed to put a few questions to Sachin Waze The commission allowed the prayer as no objection was raised by lawyers of other sides To Castellinos question whether there was any kind of pressure on him or he faced uncomfortable situation while in the NIAs custody Waze said Yes of course It was the most traumatic time in my life the dismissed police officer said To another question Waze said the NIA caused harassment and humiliation to him during the custody I say the trauma is still there he added He also claimed that he signed various documents under duress of the NIA authorities Wazes cross-examination will continue on Wednesday Param Bir Singh transferred from the post of Mumbai police commissioner in March in the aftermath of the Antilia bomb scare episode alleged that Deshmukh had asked police officers including Waze to collect Rs 100 crore a month from bars and restaurants in the citySinghs transfer followed Wazes arrest in the case of an SUV with explosives found near industrialist Mukesh Ambanis south Mumbai residence Antilia The Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate are also probing the allegations made against Deshmukh by the senior IPS officer PTI AVI GK KRK KRK

Mumbai Nov 29 PTI A commission probing corruption allegations against former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh cancelled the bailable warrant issued against former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh after the latter appeared before the panel on Monday The Justice K U Chandiwal Commission also directed Singh to deposit Rs 15000 in the chief ministers relief fund Singh also filed an affidavit before the single-member commission saying he has nothing to depose and doesnt want to be crossed- examined by the probe panel In a related development Anil Deshmukhs lawyer raised objection before the commission over Singh and dismissed police officer Sachin Waze sitting together in another room in the commissions premises Waze has been appearing before the commission for his cross-examination in connection with the case Singh and the witness Waze are sitting together for the last one hour He Singh might influence the witness Deshmukhs lawyer said Justice Chandiwal retired initially said how can it be stopped He later told Waze that its better to sit in this room where the commissions proceeding was taking place to avoid such a situation Waze was arrested in the case of an explosives-laden SUV found near industrialist Mukesh Ambanis residence Antilia in south Mumbai earlier this year and the subsequent suspicious death of businessman Mansukh Hiran Singh who was transferred from the post of Mumbai police commissioner in March in the aftermath of the Antilia bomb scare episode had alleged that Deshmukh asked police officers to collect Rs 100 crore a month from bars and restaurants in the city The one-member commission was formed by the Maharashtra government in March this year to probe the allegations levelled by Singh against the then home minister and NCP leader Deshmukh The panel had earlier fined Singh on multiple occasions for failing to appear before it and also issued a bailable warrant against him Declared absconding by a court here in an extortion case Singh surfaced in public last Thursday after six months and appeared before the Mumbai crime branch to record his statement The Supreme Court has granted him temporary protection from arrest Singh appeared before Thane police on Friday in connection with an extortion case filed against him and some other police officials on the complaint of a local builder The IPS officer is facing at least five extortion cases in Maharashtra PTI AVI GK GK

Mumbai Nov 26 PTI Dismissed police official Sachin Waze on Friday told an inquiry commission here that IPS officer Param Bir Singh had advised him not to indulge in the illegal activity of collecting money for anyoneSingh who surfaced in public after six months on Thursday is himself likely to appear before the Justice K U Chandiwal commission on MondayThe one-member commission is conducting inquiry into Singhs allegations that Anil Deshmukh then Maharashtra home minister had asked police officers including Waze to collect Rs 100 crore from bars and restaurants in MumbaiOn Friday Waze was cross-examined by Deshmukhs lawyer Anita CastellinoCiting Wazes affidavit before the commission the lawyer asked had Singh then Mumbai police commissioner ever advised him not to fall prey to any pressure and indulge in the illegal activity of collecting money for anyoneWaze replied that the IPS official had advised him soAsked whether he followed the advice Waze said I had already succumbed He described himself as an upright officer who was forced to go against law under certain unfortunate circumstancesMeanwhile Singhs lawyer on Friday told the commission that the IPS officer wont be able to appear during the day as he was visiting Thane in connection with a case against himThe day before the commission had warned that if Singh did not remain present he would face the execution of the bailable warrant issued against himSingh was ready to appear on Saturday or any other day the lawyer saidThe commission said it doesnt sit on Saturday and Singh can appear on Monday November 29 to which the lawyer agreedSingh was transferred from the post of Mumbai police commissioner in March in the aftermath of the Antilia bomb scare episode following which he leveled allegations against Deshmukh in a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav ThackerayThe IPS officer appeared before the Mumbai crime branch on Thursday to record his statementMeanwhile a man claiming to be a social worker on Friday approached the Justice Chandiwal commission with an intervention application seeking inquiry against Singh for his misdeeds during his tenure as Thane police commissionerSingh implicated many builders businessmen and common citizens in false cases the plea allegedThe commission took the application on recordIncidentally Singh appeared before Thane police on Friday in connection with an extortion case filed against him and some other police officials on the complaint of a local builderThe IPS officer is facing at least five extortion cases in MaharashtraThe Supreme Court has granted him temporary protection from arrest PTI AVI NP KRK KRK KRK

New Delhi Nov 18 PTI The Supreme Court Thursday junked a plea filed by former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh seeking records including file notings and internal correspondence of the preliminary enquiry PE report in the corruption case saying should we entertain this because he has been a ministerA bench headed by Justice S K Kaul dismissed Deshmukhs plea and said he can argue on this before the competent court and they have the liberty to do soThe petition under 32 is based on the premise that the orders passed by the court on the rationale that the PE may have been material against the petition But as per certain newspaper reports the petitioner is stated to have been given clean chit in the enquiry The prayer is to call for all the records to look into the PE We are not inclined to exercise our jurisdiction under Article 32 In the given scenario it is always open to the petitioner to plead before the competent court said the bench also comprising Justice M M Sundresh Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for Deshmukh submitted that the court had earlier said that let the PE be completed as the commissioner of police has made these allegations Now the commissioner of police is going to be declared an absconder They said in FIR that a PE report says a cognisable offence is made out India Today has assessed the report As per certain reports the petitioner is given a clean chit The PE on the orders of the Bombay High Court has recorded statements of many key players If this is true then it takes the whole basis of the record Then there is political motivation in this All family members servants are being called everyday to admit that you are leaking this report Sibal submitted The court however said We dont know how much credence can be given to all this material Should we entertain this because he has been a ministerThe investigation can carry on Why should this court entertain this petition under Article 32 Competent courts are already looking into this We are not inclined A special PMLA court here on Monday had sent Deshmukh to 14-day judicial custody as the Enforcement Directorate ED did not seek his further remand in connection with a multi-crore money laundering case Deshmukh 71 was arrested by the ED on November 1 after questioning in the case under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA The ED had initiated a probe against Deshmukh and his associates after the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI filed its FIR against the NCP leader on April 21 this year on charges of corruption and misuse of official position The money laundering case against Deshmukh and others was made out after the CBI booked him in a corruption case related to allegations of at least Rs 100 crore bribery made by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh The ED case is that Deshmukh while serving as the states home minister misused his official position and through dismissed police officer Sachin Waze collected Rs 470 crore from various bars and restaurants in Mumbai Deshmukh has refuted these allegations saying the agencys whole case was based on malicious statements made by a tainted cop Waze The agency had also submitted its prosecution complaint equivalent to a charge sheet against the duo before a special court PTI PKS SA

Mumbai Sep 28 PTI The Enforcement Directorate ED questioned Maharashtra Transport Minister Anil Parab for nearly eight hours here on Tuesday in connection with a money laundering case registered against former state minister Anil Deshmukh and others an official saidThe ED had on Saturday issued summons for the second time to Parab 56 who also holds the parliamentary affairs portfolio in the Maha Vikas Aghadi MVA government asking him to appear before the central agencyAccordingly the Sena minister reached the ED office in the Ballard Estate area of south Mumbai around 11 am and was allowed to go at about 7 pm the official saidAfter coming out of the ED office Parab told reporters he had given answers of all questions asked by officials of the financial investigation agencyI am responsible to the authority probe agency and not to any individual Whatever the authority will ask me I will answer them said ParabAs per summons issued to me by the ED I appeared before them and answered all the questions which were asked to me he said without providing further detailsThere was heavy police deployment outside the ED officeEarlier in the day Parab had said he was not aware why the ED has summoned himI am still unaware for what purpose they have called me I swear by my daughters and late Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray that I have not done anything wrong the minister saidThe three-term Shiv Sena MLA was first summoned by the agency on August 31 but he declined to appear citing official engagements and had sought more timeParab was summoned in the money laundering probe against former home minister Deshmukh after certain disclosures were made by other accused and those involved in the case officials have saidThe summons pertains to the criminal investigation being carried out by the ED in the alleged Rs 100-crore bribery-cum-extortion racket in the Maharashtra police establishment that led to Deshmukhs resignation from the state cabinet in AprilThe ED case against Deshmukh an NCP leader and others came after the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI booked him in a corruption case related to allegations of at least Rs 100 crore bribe levelled by former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir SinghDeshmukh who has skipped the ED summons at least five times till now and moved court against the agency has rejected all allegations against himThe NCP politician has said Singh made the allegations against him after he was removed from the post of Mumbai police commissioner in MarchFormer police officer Sachin Waze arrested by the NIA in the case of recovery of an explosives-laden SUV near industrialist Mukesh Ambanis house in Mumbai has also levelled certain allegations against ParabWaze had earlier alleged in a letter which he sought to submit before a court that in January 2021 Parab asked him to carry out an inquiry against fraudulent contractors listed in the Mumbai civic body and collect at least Rs 2 crore from about 50 such contractorsParab had then rejected Wazes claims and said he was ready to face any probe into the allegations PTI DC GK RSY RSY

Mumbai Sep 16 PTI Dismissed police officer Sachin Waze has alleged in his statement to the Enforcement Directorate ED that former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh had asked him to collect money from bar and hotel owners and used to give instructions in high-profile investigationsEarlier former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh had accused Deshmukh of asking Waze to collect money from bar owners in Mumbai an allegation which Deshmukh who later resigned deniedWazes statement is part of a charge-sheet recently filed by the ED against Deshmukhs personal secretary Sanjeev Palande and personal assistant Kundan Shinde in an alleged money laundering case Waze an assistant inspector of Mumbai Police was arrested in March this year in a case of SUV with explosives found near industrialist Mukesh Ambanis south Mumbai residence Waze told the ED that on June 16 2020 he met Deshmukh at the state guest house Sahyadri where the then state home minister told him that together they will do good casesThereafter Deshmukh used to call him frequently to take updates on various cases directly and at times for personal work such as arranging vehicles the statement saidAmong other matters he got instructions from Deshmukh on the TRP rigging case where some TV channels were accused of manipulating TRP to inflate viewership and the abetment to suicide case regarding the death of architect Anvay Naik in which journalist Arnab Goswami was arrested as per Wazes statementTo another query Waze alleged that at a meeting held in October 2020 at Deshmukhs residence Dyneshwari the NCP leader gave him a list of 1750 bars and restaurants and asked him to collect Rs 3 lakh each from these establishments for granting various favoursThe charge-sheet has not named Deshmukh or his family members as accused but says that Waze collected money from bars and restaurants at the behest and instructions of Deshmukh and the amount was handed over to Deshmukhs aides Palande and ShindeDeshmukh received approximately Rs 470 crore collected from orchestra bar owners and this money was routed to the Shri Sai Shikshan Sanstha Trust managed by the Deshmukh family as donations the ED charge sheet allegedThe ED launched a probe against Deshmukh and his associates after the CBI filed an FIR against the senior Nationalist Congress Party leader on April 21 following allegations made by Param Bir Singh PTI AVI KRK KRK KRK