Ex-Maha Minister Anil Deshmukh Sent to 14-day Judicial Custody in Money Laundering case

A special holiday court in Mumbai on Saturday remanded former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh in 14-day judicial custody in connection with an alleged money laundering case.       

 The Enforcement Directorate (ED), probing the case, sought his remand for nine more days, but the court refused the probe agency's plea and sent him to judicial custody. 

Deshmukh was arrested by the ED late Monday night after 12 hours of questioning. A court had on Tuesday remanded him in the agency's custody till November 6.        

He was produced before the special court at the end of his ED custody on Saturday. He was taken out of the central agency's office in Mumbai at around 12.20 pm. Before being produced in the special PMLA court, he was taken to the state-run J J Hospital for his routine medical check-up, according to officials.       

The money laundering case against Deshmukh and others was made out after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) booked him in a corruption case related to allegations of at least Rs 100 crore bribery made through a letter by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh.       

Besides, The ED had initiated a probe against Deshmukh and his associates after the CBI filed its FIR against the NCP leader on April 21 on charges of corruption and misuse of official position.

The ED's case is that Deshmukh, while serving as home minister, misused his official position and through dismissed cop Sachin Waze collected Rs 4.70 crore from various bars and restaurants in Mumbai.

Besides Deshmukh, the ED has arrested his two aides - Kundan Shinde and Sanjeev Palande - in connection with the case. The duo are currently in judicial custody. The ED also attached properties worth around Rs 4.2 crore linked with the Deshmukh family.

Hrishikesh Deshmukh, the son Anil Deshmukh, is also being probed in the case. Hrishikesh on Friday skipped summons by the ED and is likely to move court seeking anticipatory bail, his lawyer told the media.

Further, supporters of the NCP leader on Friday staged protests against his arrest in his Katol assembly constituency in Nagpur district.

Demonstrations were held at 17 places, an aide of the NCP leader told PTI,

The protesters condemned Deshmukh's arrest even after IPS officer Param Bir Singh -- who had accused him of corruption -- stated in an affidavit that he had no further proof against Deshmukh, the aide said.

(With PTI inputs)