Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh Remanded To 14 Days Judicial Custody In Money Laundering Case

Special Judge HS Satbhai allowed Deshmukh a bed and medicines prescribed by a doctor in prison.

Deshmukh was arrested on November 2, following over 12 hours of interrogation, and was remanded to ED's custody.

The ED's case is based on the CBI's corruption FIR against Deshmukh wherein Ex-Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh alleged that Deshmukh had asked dismissed cop Sachin Waze and two other officers to illegally collect Rs 100 crore from bar owners every month for him.

On Monday the court remanded Deshmukh after hearing Advocates Aniket Nikam and Inderpal Singh for Deshmukh and Special Public Prosecutor Hiten Venegaonkar for ED.

The agency did not seek Deshmukh's further custody as 14 days had already lapsed.

Nikam submitted that Deshmukh would require home food and medicines considering his age and ailments. "It's a harmless request," he said.

Advocate Inderpal Singh sought a bed for Deshmukh stating Deshmukh suffers from back problems and cannot sleep on the floor.

Venegaonkar opposed the applications saying that Deshmukh's medical examination showed he was fine.

"However, considering age of accused and ailments, jail authorities to provide Applicant with bed," the court said.

While the court also allowed medicines, the home food application is kept pending.

According to the ED probe, as Maharashtra's home minister, Deshmukh had received atleast Rs 4.7 crore in illegal gratification in cash from various orchestra bar owners between December 2020 and February 2021 through dismissed cop Sachin Waze.

The agency further claims that as the Home Minister of Maharashtra, Deshmukh laundered the bribe money with the help of Delhi based paper companies by attempting to color it as donation to his trust namely Shri Sai Shikshan Sanstha.

Recently, the agency filed a prosecution complaint against Waze and 12 others. The ED which had then issued summons to Deshmukh at least five times cited his non-appearance for not naming him in the chargesheet.

Last Sunday the Bombay High Court had set aside a special court's order remanding Deshmukh in judicial custody and sent him back in the Enforcement Directorate's custody.