Anil Deshmukh Wanted Arnab Goswami Arrested : Dismissed Cop Sachin Waze Tells ED

Waze's statement is a part of the ED's recent prosecution complaint filed in a Special PMLA Court in Mumbai, based on the CBI's corruption FIR against Deshmukh.

The ED prosecution complaint cites Waze as an accused, along with 13 others.

ED has not named Deshmukh as an accused yet, citing his non-appearance before investigators despite several summons. Instead, the agency has cited several companies owned by his family and his arrested close associates Sanjeev Palande and PA Kundan Shinde as accused.

Waze's statement, recorded u/s 50 of PMLA gives in-depth details about his alleged collection from bar and orchestra owners at Deshmukh's behest.

According to Waze, while Param Bir Singh knew Deshmukh has assigned him the task, Singh didn't know Waze was following the instructions.

Currently in prison in the Ambani Terror Scare Case, Waze has further claimed he received no monetary benefits from any transaction. "As per accused Waze, Anil Deshmukh had played a crucial role in his reinstatement, and therefore, he was indebted literally and figuratively to him," the ED has said.

According to the ED complaint, Waze collected Rs 4.7 crore bribe from bars and other establishments from December 2020 to February 2021 as per Deshmukh's directions and handed the money over to Deshmukh's PA.

They said that bar and restaurant owners were forced to pay the money during the Covid lockdown to ensure smooth functioning of their establishments, and that Deshmukh and Waze were together involved in the whole racket of "extortion of collection of Rs 100 crore a month."

The agency alleges that Deshmukh, with his family and associates' help created a complex web of companies, which are not in business, to launder money received from his activities.

Waze's Statement To ED

ED asked Waze the following questions about transfers in police postings; Deshmukh directing investigation in several cases when Waze headed the Crime Investigation Unit of Mumbai Police; Waze's own-reinstatement after 16 years; whether he informed any senior officer about Deshmukh's directions; if he gained anything from the extortion and if he wanted to say anything.

On police transfers, Waze said Deshmukh and State transport Minister Anil Parab received Rs 40 crores for reverse transfers of 10 Deputy Police Commissioners.

"In July 2020 the Commissioner of Police Param Bir Singh issued an order for transfer and posting of 10 DCPs, for which Ministers Anil Deshmukh and Anil Parab were not happy and got the order reversed. After 3-4 days, I came to know that after some adjustment and considerations of money, the said order was issued. I further state that I came to know about a total sum of Rs 40 crore had been collected from police officers listed in the said order and out of which Rs 20 crore each was given to Deshmukh through Sanjeev Palande and Parab through one Bajrang Kharmate RTO officer."

Waze On Arnab Goswami's Arrest

I state that a few cases where I used to get directions directly from Shri Anil Deshmukh: TRP case, Arnab Goswami arrest in a suicide case, Dilip Chhabria case, social media fake follower case etc.

"Shri Anil Deshmukh wanted to arrest Arnab Goswami. In Dilip Chhabria Case, Shri Anil Deshmukh wanted me to get some kind of settlement with his partner of approx. Rs.150 crore."

'Ex-CP Parambir Singh Did Nothing Wrong'

On a question by ED regarding informing any senior officer about the collection from bar owners, Waze states, "I have informed about the said instructions of Anil Deshmukh to Param Bir Singh, who advised me against following the illegal instructions. However, Param Bir Singh was not having any knowledge that I was following these instructions of collecting money from Orchestra Bar for Anil Deshmukh."

'I Was Only Saving My Job'- Waze

"I have not received any monetary benefits from the abovesaid collection and dealings. Further, I had compulsion and political pressure to save my job after getting reinstated in the police force which resulted in doing these dealings on the Instructions of Shri Anil Deshmukh." Waze claimed.

Waze's statement attached to ED's prosecution complaint would have to be tested, considering ED has cited him as an accused along with 13 others.

Background On Reinstatement Of Sachin Waze

Waze was suspended in 2004 for his alleged role in the custodial death of Ghatkopar blast accused Khwaja Yunus; he was reinstated by a committee headed by CP Parambir Singh last year.

Waze claimed that Param Bir Singh had informed him that NCP Chief Sharad Pawar was unhappy with his reinstatement in the force after 16 years. On June 16, 2020, Waze claims he got a call from Deshmukh, who promised to convince Pawar for continuing Waze in the police force and sought Rs 2 crores for helping him.

In the Prosecution Complaint, ED has named Waze, Palande, Shinde, brothers Surendra Jain and Virendra Jain as owners of some of the companies, Trust Sai Shikshan Sanstha, and alleged shell companies Reliable Finance Corporation Pvt Ltd, VA Realcon Pvt Ltd, Utsav Securities Pvt Ltd, SITAL Leasing and Finance Pvt Ltd, Kishore Diwani, Premium Port Link, along with chartered accountants Vinod Hassani and Vishal Khatwani.

The ED finally claims it needs more time to inspect the role of other suspects, which includes Deshmukh's family members.

Case Title: Directorate of Enforcement v. Sachin Hindurao Waze