Mumbai: A special PMLA court here on Monday refused bail to former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh in an alleged money laundering case. Deshmukh, an NCP leader, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on November 2, 2021. He is currently in judicial custody. Special judge RN Rokade rejected his bail plea on Monday.
There is "enough evidence" to prima facie hold that he was "involved" in the money laundering case, the judge said. There are contradictions in the witness statements, but that cannot be considered at this stage (of bail plea), he said. This was Deshmukh's first regular bail petition. Earlier, the special court had rejected his plea for default bail, filed on technical ground.
In the regular plea filed in January this year, Deshmukh contended that he is a victim of gross persecution by probe agencies. The former minister had said "harassment was being meted out to him at the hands of certain unscrupulous vested interests for blatantly malafide considerations". He claimed the case reflects shocking abuse of power and authority by officials concerned who have virtually unleashed a reign of terror by subverting the process of law.
Also read:CBI examines Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey in its probe against Anil Deshmukh