'Ethically Wrong To Continue To Hold Office': Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh Resigns After Bombay High Court Orders CBI Probe

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has resigned hours after the Bombay High Court ordered a preliminary inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe allegations of corrupt malpractices, against him.

"The Bombay Hon'ble Bombay High Court, Mumbai, has passed an order today April 5, 2021 on a petition filed by Advocate Jaishri Patil, directing the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry. I find it ethically wrong to continue to hold office as the Minister (Home), so I am handing over my resignation. Therefore, I request to be relieved from the office," the resignation addressed to CM Uddhav Thackeray states.  

The Chief Minister's office will now hold the additional charge of the State's Home portfolio.

Allegations of Corruption

In an eight-page letter to CM Uddhav Thackeray on March 20, Param Bir Singh accused Deshmukh of holding meetings with subordinate police officers, including suspended API Sachin Waze, and seeking a collection of Rs 100 crore from the 1750 bars and restaurants, in Mumbai. Deshmukh has denied the allegations.

Singh had written the letter three days after he was shunted out of the Mumbai Police Commissionerate and took charge as the Commandant General Home Guards.

A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice GS Kulkarni ordered the CBI director to conclude the inquiry within 15 days and take further action in accordance with law.