CBI opposes Anil Deshmukh bail plea in corruption case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has opposed the bail application filed by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in the corruption case filed against him. .The CBI filed an affidavit to that effect before Special CBI judge SH Gwalani in Mumbai Court.The affidavit stated that Deshmukh was facing serious charges, therefore, he could not be allowed to take shelter of the elements for seeking bail. As a public servant holding very high office, Deshmukh had committed serious offences and hence was not entitled for bail, the agency argued.The reply also pointed out that statements made by witnesses before the single-member Commission of retired Bombay High Court Judge Justice KU Chandiwal could not be relied upon as the Commission had no legal sanctity. The Commisson was conducting an enquiry into the allegations levelled by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh against Deshmukh.It further stated that the chargesheet had been filed against Deshmukh based on admissible oral and documentary evidence establishing his criminal involvement. On the role of dismissed cop Sachin Waze being approver in the case, the agency pointed out that the evidence he provided as an approver was important in the case. If Deshmukh is enlarged on bail, there is serious apprehension he may tamper with evidence and influence witnesses and flee from the country, hence he is certainly a flight risk, the agency apprehended. "The applicant is man of ways and means, he may abuse his position/status to influence the potential witnesses to be examined and may also tamper with evidence to be collected during the course of further investigation if enlarged on bail, at this stage" the reply pointed out. .Deshmukh and his associates are being investigated for alleged corruption between 2019 and 2021.Based on findings of a preliminary investigation into a complaint of advocate Dr. Jaishri Patil, the CBI booked Deshmukh and unknown others. The inquiry was launched after the Bombay High Court issued a direction to that effect on April 5, 2021, in response to a petition filed by Param Bir Singh, former Commissioner of Mumbai Police.Based on the CBI case, the ED initiated money laundering case against Deshmukh and arrested him in November 2021.Deshmukh was later apprehended by the CBI in the first week of April this year. He was detained by the CBI until April 16 before being remanded to judicial custody.Deshmukh had applied for default bail claiming CBI filed an 'incomplete' chargesheet in the corruption case. This was rejected by the Special judge on June 2, 2022. .Meanwhile, he was granted bail by the Bombay High Court in the in the money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) based on the CBI FIR.This order was upheld by the Supreme Court.Deshmukh moved the bail plea in CBI case after he secured bail in ED case..Deshmukh has claimed in the bail plea filed through advocate Aniket Nikam that CBI's entire case rests on the "whims and fancies of the investigative agency"."The credibility of the statements on which the case of the CBI rests is extremely doubtful and the credentials of all such people raise a question mark of serious nature. The entire case is based on the statement of former Mumbai Police Commissioner Parambir Singh and dismissed Mumbai cop Sachin Waze against whom there is ample evidence available on record that Waze himself was in fact the sole person instrumental in the collection of illegal bribe money from the bar owners," the bail application stated.Deshmukh contended that Waze's credibility was of grave concern more so because he had become an approver."The investigation carried out by CBI do not inspire any confidence and on the contrary expose the premiere instigating agency of the country to have become a mere pawn in the hands of vested interests and acting for extraneous and malafide considerations," the application said.He further submitted that he is under incarceration since November 2, 2021, however he had been arrested by the CBI only on April 4, 2022, which indicated that there had been no necessity of arrest."The arrest therefore, is in itself an act of malice," Deshmukh emphasized..Special counsel Ashish Chavan appeared for CBI while Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhari along with Advocates Nikam and Inderpal Singh appeared for Deshmukh.

CBI opposes Anil Deshmukh bail plea in corruption case

Neha Joshi

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