Maharashtra’s former Home Minister, Anil Deshmukh arrested in money laundering case

Mumbai’s ex top cop Param Bir Singh had who accused Mr Deshmukh of corruption and extortion has gone missing

Anil Deshmukh (71), Maharashtra’s former Home Minister has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate after more than 12 hours of questioning at their office in connection with money laundering and corruption case against him. He was arrested under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Earlier this year, Mr Deshmukh stepped down from his post amidst the bribery allegations against him and has also skipped at least five summons by the agency. Although he moved the Bombay High Court to squash the summons by the probe agency but he was refused relief for the same.

In a video message he said, “I have received ED summons and the media has wrongly reported that I am not cooperating with the investigation. After every summon, I informed the ED that my petition is pending before the courts and that I will produce myself before the ED after their outcomes. My staff and my family have always cooperated with the ED during the searches. I have also recorded my statements with the CBI. Today I am appearing before the ED.”

He further added “On account of a witch-hunt campaign launched at the instance of certain vested inimical interests, some blatantly false allegations have been levelled by those persons who have absolutely no credibility, honour of pride. These unscrupulous persons are themselves knee-deep involved in several rackets of extortion and even murder. The principal person who held the high office of commissioner of police is now a wanted absconding criminal.”

Mumbai’s ex top cop Param Bir Singh wrote a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and accused Mr Deshmukh of corruption and using the police to extort up to Rs 100 crore every month. The letters were written by him days after him being removed from his post over the Mukesh Ambani bomb scare matter under his watch. The ED has alleged that Deshmukh, while acting as Home Minister “received illegal gratification of approximately Rs 4.7 crore in cash from various orchestra bar owners” through Waze.

The former top cop has gone missing and a lookout notice has been issued against him. Several cases of extortion have been filed against him. While the ED probe into Deshmukh’s financial transactions although the NCP leader denied all allegations slammed on him.