The Enforcement Directorate has registered a money laundering case against former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and other unknown persons, based on a probe recently initiated by the CBI into allegations of corruption against him, according to a senior agency official.
The CBI had registered the case on April 21, following which it carried out searches at various places linked to Mr. Deshmukh in Mumbai and Nagpur. The case was instituted based on the findings of a preliminary enquiry launched on the directions of the Bombay High Court on April 5.
The First Information Report (FIR) alleged an attempt to get undue advantage for improper and dishonest performance of public duty. As alleged, certain police officers had been asked to collect ₹100 crore every month from bars and restaurants in Mumbai.
While the CBI is pursuing the criminal angle, the ED will be unearthing the financial trail, if any.
The CBI, in the FIR, has mentioned that its enquiry also revealed that now suspended Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze was reinstated into the police force after being out of service for over 15 years. He was then given most of the important cases of the Mumbai Police. The then Home Minister was also in the know of these facts, as alleged.
It was also alleged that the then Home Minister and others had exercised undue influence over the transfer and posting of officials, thus impacting the performance of their official duties.
During the enquiry, the CBI had examined Mr. Deshmukh, his two staffers, former Mumbai Police chief Param Bir Singh, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police Sanjay Patil and Mr. Vaze. The statement of Jayshree Patil, a petitioner in the matter, was also recorded.