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Updated May 6th, 2021 at 07:29 IST

Maharashtra govt moves HC seeking to quash portions of FIR against ex-HM Anil Deshmukh

The Maharashtra government moved the Bombay High Court challenging certain portions of the FIR registered by the CBI against ex-Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

Reported by: Akhil Oka
Maharashtra
PTI/ANI | Image:self
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The Maharashtra government moved the Bombay High Court challenging certain portions of the FIR registered by the CBI against ex-Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. Taking objections to two specific paragraphs, it contended that they sought to destabilise the present government in the state. They referred to the reinstatement of suspended Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze and sensitive cases being given to him besides "undue influence" exercised by the NCP leader on transfer and postings of police officers.

Maintaining that the CBI could have filed an FIR only based on Jaishri Patil's complaint at the Malabar Police Station, it accused the central agency of violating Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act. This section bars the CBI from exercising its powers in a state which has revoked its consent for the agency to operate except with the permission of the HC or SC. In October 2020, Maharashtra withdrew general consent given to the CBI to probe cases in the state. 

Maharashtra government flagged these portions of the FIR:

"Enquiry has also revealed that Shri Sachin Vaze, Assistant Police Inspector, Mumbai Police has been reinstated into the police force after being out of the police force for more than 15 years. The enquiry further revealed that Shri Sachin Vaze was entrusted with most of the sensational and important cases of Mumbai City Police and that the then Home Minister was in knowledge of the said fact. Further, the petition of Shri Param Bir Singh also finds mention of the fact that the then Home Minister of Maharashtra and others exercised undue influence over the transfer and posting of officials and thereby exercising undue influence over the performance of official duties by the officials." 

Charges against Anil Deshmukh

The controversy came to the fore on February 20 when Param Bir Singh levelled serious 'extortion' charges against Anil Deshmukh. In a letter addressed to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, Singh refuted Deshmukh's remarks that his transfer was due to serious lapses in the Antilia bomb scare case. Moreover, he alleged that the NCP leader had asked Sachin Vaze to extort Rs.100 crore per month from 1750 bars, restaurants and other establishments in Mumbai.

After the SC directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary enquiry, Deshmukh stepped down as the Home Minister on moral grounds and was replaced by Dilip Walse Patil. 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 attempted to take undue advantage of public duty's improper and dishonest performance. 

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Published May 6th, 2021 at 07:29 IST

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