Mumbai court refuses bail to Anil Deshmukh in corruption case

The bail plea filed by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in a corruption case was dismissed by a Mumbai court on Monday.

Special Judge SH Gwalani delivered the operative part of the order today. The detailed order is to be made available soon.

NCP leader Anil Deshmukh and his associates are being investigated for alleged corruption between 2019 and 2021.

The inquiry began soon after the Bombay High Court issued directions in response to petition filed by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Parambir Singh on April 5, 2021.

Anil Deshmukh, along with his personal secretary Sanjeev Palande, personal assistant Kundan Shinde, and dismissed Mumbai Police officer Sachin Waze were named in the FIR after an investigation.

Deshmukh was arrested for the first time in November 2021 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the same case for money laundering offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

In April 2022, they were apprehended and detained by the CBI until April 16, after that they were transferred to judicial custody.

Deshmukh applied for default bail on basis of incomplete chargesheet by the agency but it was rejected.

The application by Deshmukh was rejected because Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Anil Singh pointed out that the chargesheet was complete since it contained names of the accused and charges against them with witness list.

The ASG also said that any plea claiming right of default bail if accrued, should have been filed before the chargesheet was filed. Singh’s contention was that the agency would be continuing to investigate into the case, as the chargesheet had been filed based on a preliminary investigation.

Deshmukh’s counsels, Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhri and Advocate Aniket Nikam, argued that the chargesheet filed against Deshmukh only pertained to the issue of alleged extortion from orchestra bars and restaurants, which was one of the three issues that the agency was investigating into.

They said the agency had not investigated the reinstatement of Sachin Waze including how all high-profile cases being investigated by Mumbai Police were turned over to him and on the issue of police officer transfers.

The contention of the lawyers was that the further investigation can only be done if the initial investigation had been carrie out. If not, it would only amount to fresh investigation which is impermissible.