Alleging that Maharashtra’s former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh was the "mastermind and brain" behind the money laundering conspiracy, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday told the Bombay High Court that Deshmukh was unable to explain the source of huge wealth and to explain the proceeds of crime amounting to `1.71 crores received between February -March 2021 in the bank account of an educational institution linked to him.
In its 56-page affidavit filed through Advocate Shreeram Shirsat, the ED opposed Deshmukh’s bail pleas and told the high court that he had misused his official position to amass wealth. It said that despite multiple opportunities given to him, the former Home Minister Deshmukh had failed to explain the source of his income, thus lending credence and showing even otherwise that the proceeds of crimes were being laundered.
In its affidavit filed a day after a Special court remanded him to CBI’s custody till April 11, the ED stated: "The applicant (Deshmukh) is the mastermind of the entire conspiracy hatched with his son Hrishikesh Deshmukh, Sachin Waze (dismissed police officer), Sanjeev Palande and Kundan Shinde (Deshmukh's former aides)"
“The applicant (Deshmukh) is the main conspirator and the brain behind the whole conspiracy to collect money from bars and restaurant owners. Deshmukh amassed huge wealth during his public service and the source of this wealth is still unexplained,” the ED stated
"Deshmukh has not cooperated with the probe and was not able to explain the source of the wealth and was hiding the actual facts,” the ED said, adding that ED had admitted that an unofficial list used to be circulated containing the names of police officials and respective places where they were to be transferred, for which no records were maintained.
"During ED custody also the application was unable to explain the source of huge wealth and to explain the proceeds of crime amounting to `1.71 crores received during the month of February - March 2021 in the bank account of Shri Sai Shikshan Sanstha from the companies of Jain brothers," the ED stated.
A single HC bench of Justice Anuja Prabhudessai will hear Deshmukh's plea on Friday.