ED files charge sheet against Maharashtra's ex-Home Minister Anil Deshmukh

A charge sheet against former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh was filed in Bombay High Court by the Enforcement Directorate.

Mumbai:In a fresh development in money laundering case, a charge sheet against former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh was filed in Bombay High Court by the Enforcement Directorate, as per sources. Deshmukh's personal assistant Sanjeev Palande and Kundan Shinde were also named in the charge sheet.

Deshmukh summoned earlier by the Enforcement Directorate said he will appear before the central agency "after the legal process is completed." He had earlier said that the apex court has accepted his plea on the ED and it will be heard soon.

The Supreme Court on August 16 refrained from granting interim relief to Deshmukh, who sought protection from any coercive action by the ED in connection with the case. The three-judge bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar said that Deshmukh is at liberty to access remedies available to him under the law. The bench was hearing pleas challenging the constitutional validity of certain provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The case pertains to the alleged Rs 100 crore bribery-cum-extortion racket. The criminal case registered under the PMLA had led to the veteran Nationalist Congress Party leader's resignation in April 2021. The Central Bureau of Investigation lodged a corruption case alleging Rs 100 crore bribery made by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh which was followed by ED registering the case.

Singh had alleged that Deshmukh asked suspended Mumbai police assistant police inspector Sachin Waze to extort over Rs 100 crore a month from bars and restaurants in the city. Singh made the allegation in a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Deshmukh's personal secretary and personal assistant were arrested by the ED after raids in Mumbai and Nagpur.