Iqbal Mirchi Case: All you need to know about Rinku Deshpande

The money laundering case in relation to Iqbal Mirchi is getting bigger day by day as new characters emerge and point towards the direction of the movement of money. One person, who according to the Enforcement Directorate has played a crucial role in the land deals, was Rinku Deshpande. Deshpande has been sent into remand custody for two days. Let us understand what the alleged role of Rinku Deshpande in the case is. 

Rinku’s name appeared while questioning Bindra 

Rinku Deshpande's name came out during the questioning of another accused in the Iqbal Mirchi case called Ranjeet Singh Bindra. Ranjeet Singh Bindra has been accused of doing deals with Iqbal Mirchi and allegedly had received money against property deals on behalf of a company called Sunblink Real Estate Private Limited. During his questioning, Mr. Bindra told the Enforcement Directorate that in order to receive the brokerage money, he had planted Rinku Deshpande as a fake representative of the tenants. 

Read: Iqbal Mirchi aide Ranjeet Singh Bindra produced in court

ED’s remand copy 

The Enforcement Directorate in its remand copy stated that “in order to siphon off the money Rinku Deshpande was introduced as the fake confirming party and received an amount of Rs. 30 crores in her accounts. The amount was allegedly distributed among the brokers including Rinku Deshpande”. The agency claimed that Ranjeet Bindra, during his statement, had “submitted that cheques issued by M/s Sunblink Real Estate Pvt. Limited in favour of Tenants were handed over by him to Rinku Deshpande on the instructions of Humayun Merchant.” 

Read: ED arrests woman in Iqbal Mirchi money laundering case

Rinku on loans given to Bindra 

Further, the agency claimed that Rinku Deshpande had “acknowledged, being a fake confirming party, in the deal between Sunblink Real Estate Pvt. Limited” from the land deal. Rinku Deshpande, when quizzed regarding the transaction of Rs. 38 crores with Ranjeet Singh Bindra, had said that “she had given a loan of Rs. 38 crores in cash to Ranjeet Singh Bindra and expecting a return of loan from Bindra” hence received that amount of money. 

Read: Sunblink paid Iqbal Mirchi's close aide Humayun Merchant. Key details

However, when the agency asked her about the source of the money that she had lent to Ranjeet Singh Bindra “she could not explain the source of the said Rs. 38 crores”. Also, Ranjeet Singh Bindra had “denied the said huge quantum of the loan in cash” stated the Enforcement Directorate. The agency claimed that Rinku Deshpande had sent her husband Nilesh Deshpande to enquire about “MoUs between Sunblink and Joy Home Creation Pvt. Limited” because she wanted to acquire “some of the tenancy rights”. However, according to the agency, “Mr. Jayant Soni denied any acquaintance with the lady, therefore it appears to be a deeper conspiracy which Smt Rinku is not revealing.” 

Read: ED arrests 2 linked to Iqbal Mirchi, an aide of Dawood over a land deal