As he waits for the Bombay High Court to hear his bail plea in the alleged corruption case lodged against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on November 11, Maharashtra’s former Home Minister and senior NCP leader Anil Deshmukh will on Wednesday complete one year of incarceration in the CBI’s corruption case and also alleged money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
After skipping the summons issued by the ED for five consecutive times on the alleged money laundering case, Deshmukh had finally appeared before the central investigating agency officials on November 1, 2022 and his questioning had gone on well past midnight. At around 1.30 am on November 2, 2021, the ED formally arrested Deshmukh under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on charges of bribery, conspiracy and misuse of office.
Deshmukh -- who is also being investigated by the CBI in connection with a First Information Report (FIR) registered by it on April 24 2021 under section 7 of the amended Prevention of Corruption Act and section 120-b (conspiracy) of IPC for an “attempt to obtain undue advantage for important and dishonest performance of the public duty” --- was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on October 4, 2022 in the alleged money laundering case registered against him by the ED.
In view of the observations made by the Bombay High Court while granted bail to him in the alleged money laundering case, Deshmukh hopes to get bail in the alleged corruption case filed against him by the CBI, when the high court hears his bail application on November 11.
While granting bail to Deshmukh on October 4. 2o22, the high court had indirectly held that the ED had failed to prove two of its allegations against the former minister, while Deshmukh was given benefit under law in the third allegation.
Deshmukh is currently in judicial custody at the Arthur Road Central Prison.
Ahead of hearing Deshmukh’s bail application on November 11, the high court has asked the CBI to file its reply by November 9.