Former Maharashtra HM Anil Deshmukh: 2 nd Chargesheet Booked

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday submitted a prosecution complaint (supplementary chargesheet) against former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh in the money-laundering case filed in connection with alleged bribes collected from bar owners.

Deshmukh was arrested on November 2 by the ED. The central agency had claimed that he was the primary beneficiary of laundering done on the bribe money allegedly collected by dismissed cop Sachin Waze, named as an accused in the previous chargesheet.

The ED alleged that Deshmukh’s family was indirectly controlling or managing the activities of 27 companies used to launder money and that the bribe money was shown as donations made to Deshmukh’s trust ‘Sai Shikshan Sanstha’ by Delhi-based paper companies.

MUMBAI: Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday submitted a chargesheet against former state home minister before the special PMLA court in connection with money laundering case.

In the chargesheet, the ED also named Deshmukh’s sons — Hrishikesh and Salil. The chargesheet includes statement of Deshmukh, former chief secretary of Maharashtra Sitaram Kunte, former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh and others.

It’s the second chargesheet in the case.

In August, the ED had filed its first chargesheet against Deshmukh’s Nagpur-based trust, Shri Sai Shikshan Sanstha, his then private secretary Sanjeev Palande and personal assistant Kundan Shinde among others.

The agency had arrested Deshmukh in the case on November 2. He is presently in jail custody. The chargesheet also includes the statement of around a dozen IPS-SPS cadre officers who allegedly obtained their posting on recommendation of Deshmukh when he was the state home minister.

The ED has been unable to get a copy of the report of former state intelligence department commissioner Rashmi Shukla, who had recorded telephonic conversations of some influential persons who were allegedly discussing transfer-posting of police officers in exchange for money.

The agency has examined the allegation that Deshmukh had favoured police officers for desirable transfer-posting for consideration based on related statements and documents collected during the probe.

The ED is investigating two aspects in the money laundering case it has registered against Deshmukh based on the CBI FIR. Deshmukh has been accused of misusing his post as home minister and asking now dismissed assistant police inspector to collect Rs 100 crore from bar and restaurant owners for him every month. The ED is also examining the allegation that Deshmukh had favoured police officers for desirable transfer-posting for consideration.

Last year, then state intelligence department commissioner Rashmi Shukla had recorded telephonic conversations of some influential persons who were allegedly discussing transferposting of police officers, including IPS officers,
in exchange for money. Shukla had submitted the report to then DGP Subodh Jaiswal, who forwarded it to then ACS (home) Kunte to discuss it with the CM for required action. But the government had not acted on the report and later Shukla and Jaiswal opted for central government deputation.

Deshmukh resigned from the home minister’s post in April after former Mumbai Police chief Param Bir Singh made corruption allegations against him.