Anil Deshmukh knocks on SC doors, seeks protection from coercive action in corruption case

Seeking respite from coercive actions, former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has moved the Supreme Court in the ongoing probe into the corruption allegations against him. The NCP leader has filed a petition with the Top Court seeking protection from any coercive action, including arrests, by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that is investigating the matter. Deshmukh has been summoned by the ED for the third time on July 5, in connection with the extortion racket allegations levied on him, by ex-Mumbai top cop Param Bir Singh. 

Deshmukh has been asked to record his statement at the central agency's office in south Mumbai on Monday. His son Hrishikesh Deshmukh has also been issued summons to appear the next day on July 6. Deshmukh (72), had skipped the earlier two summons citing his 'vulnerability' to COVID-19 as the reason for non-compliance in his last communication to the agency. He instead offered the central agency to record his statement through video conferencing.

ED summons Deshmukh again

Previously, the former minister had refuted claims of non-cooperation with ED saying that has received two summons and that he has requested a copy of 'ECIR' as well as a list of documents required by the ED.  Deshmukh's personal assistant Kundan Shinde and his personal secretary Sanjeev Palande who have been arrested in connection to a money laundering case are already in ED's custody till July 6. The ED's case is based on extortion charges levied by ex-Mumbai CP Param Bir Singh and ex-Mumbai API Sachin Vaze's accusation that Deshmukh asked him to pay Rs.2 crore so that he can convince NCP supremo Sharad Pawar against placing him under suspension once again.

Sources report that the ED suspects Rs 20 crores were allegedly routed through Kolkata-based shell companies. The money which ED suspects were collected as 'protection' from bar owners were allegedly funnelled via the companies. On questioning Kolkata-based operators Manohar Nangalia and Babulal Bunka, ED has learnt that certain shell companies were floated on the behest of a Nagpur-based CA having close links with Deshmukh. Moreover, Rs 10 crores were allegedly routed through a company named Zodiac Dealcom.

Param Bir Singh's allegations against Anil Deshmukh

Earlier in April, in an 8-page letter to CM Thackeray, Param Bir Singh alleged that Vaze had been summoned by Deshmukh to his residence several times in the past few months 'setting a target of accumulating Rs 100 crores a month' from 1,750 bars, restaurants and other establishments in Mumbai - collecting Rs 2-3 lakhs from each. He added that the Home Minister had said that a monthly collection of Rs 40-50 crores were achievable from such establishments and the rest could be 'collected from other sources'. Maharashtra HM Anil Deshmukh refuted all 'extortion allegations' and later resigned after the HC allowed a CBI probe into Singh's allegations.

On April 21, the CBI registered an FIR against the NCP leader and unknown individuals under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 120 B of the Indian Penal Code. According to the FIR, the former Maharashtra Home Minister was aware that dismissed Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze was entrusted with most of the sensational and important cases of Mumbai. It also accused him and others of exercising undue influence over the transfer and posting of officials and thereby exercising undue influence over the performance of official duties by the officials. Deshmukh has moved HC seeking quashing of the FIR.