Special CBI Court Refuses Further CBI Custody Of Anil Deshmukh In Corruption Case
The Special CBI court on Wednesday refused further CBI custody of former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in a case relating to corruption in police transfers and postings.All four accused were remanded to Judicial custody. The CBI had sought only Deshmukh's custody for an additional 3 days. "In my view, since sufficient CBI custody was granted, the grounds for further custody of...
The Special CBI court on Wednesday refused further CBI custody of former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in a case relating to corruption in police transfers and postings.
All four accused were remanded to Judicial custody. The CBI had sought only Deshmukh's custody for an additional 3 days.
"In my view, since sufficient CBI custody was granted, the grounds for further custody of accused Anil Deshmukh stated in the remand application are not good and satisfactory. Hence this court is not inclined to grant CBI custody of accused Anil Deshmukh as prayed. As such all accused are required to be remanded in judicial custody." said the Judge
The CBI took Deshmukh in their custody on April 6, 2022. While Deshmukh had challenged a special court's order granting the CBI permission to take him in custody, his HC petition couldn't be heard after two judges were recused.
Advocate Aniket Nikam read out the remand copies to state that since the very first remand CBI is seeking custody on the grounds of confronting the accused with each other. Most of the other grounds were "flimsy," he said.
Nikam said there hasn't been progress in the probe to justify further custody.
The Special Public Prosecutor said that the progress in the investigation was being shown to the judge in the form of the case diaries and there was a possibility that the involvement of others could be revealed and may be named as accused in the case.
Background
CBI had registered the FIR against Deshmukh and unknown others on April 21, 2021 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and section 120B of the IPC for an attempt to obtain undue advantage for the improper and dishonest performance of public duty.
The FIR was backed by the Bombay HC order, directing the agency to conduct a Preliminary Enquiry into the Rs. 100 crore corruption allegations against Deshmukh that were levelled by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh in his letter to the Chief Minister on March 20, 2021.
However, Deshmukh's 'knowledge' of now dismissed Assistant Police Inspector, Sachin Waze's reinstatement in June 2020,is also part of CBI's FIR. Waze is in prison in the Ambani Terror Scare – Mansukh Hiran Murder Case.
CCTV
During the last hearing, Advocate Shekhar Jagtap for accused Sanjeev Palande had sought preservation of the CCTV footage. However, the CBI prosecutor said that there were CCTVs in the entire building barring the interrogation room.
He said it was just a big hall with ACs where the accused were confronted with others. Jagtap argued that installation of CCTVs was not a choice but a mandate.