ED case against Anil Deshmukh a witch hunt to topple State government: Hrishikesh Deshmukh to Mumbai court

Hrishikesh Deshmukh, son of former Home Minister of Maharashtra Anil Deshmukh, told a Mumbai court on Saturday that that the probe being conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against him and his father in a money laundering case, is a witch hunt by the ruling party at the Centre with the objective of toppling the Maharashtra government.

. Special Judge MG Deshpande under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), was hearing the anticipatory bail plea filed by Hrishikesh Deshmukh.

His plea stated that the entire proceedings against him and his father were motivated by malice and had commenced in a shady manner.

The entire investigation was a "witch-hunt campaign” launched at the instance of some blatantly false allegations by persons like dismissed cop Sachin Waze and former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, the plea stated.

. Advocate Inderpal Singh on behalf of the Deshmukh, added that the allegations had been “planted by the political ruling parties (at the Centre)” to malign the applicant and his father with the object of “changing the State government” .

“It is a power game. Param Bir Singh and Waze are the tools and me (applicant) and my father (Deshmukh) have become the victims in all this political vendetta” , the counsel argued.

. Singh prayed for interim protection from arrest so that the applicant can appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in response to the summons issued for recording of statement and avoid staying in hide out in apprehension of arrest.

Singh reiterated that Hrishikesh is an innocent citizen with no criminal antecedents and will cooperate with the investigation.

. Singh remarked that if the Supreme Court could protect Param Bir Singh, a senior IPS officer who was now suspended, despite being a proclaimed offender, the Sessions Court could also grant protection to the applicant, an innocent citizen.

“Apex court is granting relief to Param Bir Singh, who is a proclaimed offender, charged in multiple FIRs for serious offences like extortion. Why can’t I be protected? There are no criminal antecedents against me. I am an innocent citizen, I am a young man,” Singh pleaded.

He assured the Special Court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) that “if the applicant is protected, he will go and appear before the agency”.

. The Special judge however refused to pass any interim order for the time being on the ground that it had only heard the applicant's arguments and cannot pass any order without hearing the prosecution.

“I am not Supreme Court. I am a small court. Even if I give protection, at 12 tomorrow, they (ED) will get a stay from High Court and that is a blot on me. I am not afraid of blot. I will apply judicious mind, because that is what is expected of me. You show me provisions and I will pass the order. The apprehension is that matter is part heard. Another side is going to argue. They will point out facets of the case, which you may not have pointed out,” the Court said.

. The Court also said that after the matter was filed, none from the applicants side had pressed for interim relief up until now.

“Matter was adjourned at your (applicant) request for so long. No need of protection is your choice; being absconder is your choice. You argue the matter day to day, I will hear and dispose it off finally. Do not delay arguments further as that will take away the force of Section 438 (of Code of Criminal Procedure)” the Court said.

. ED had initiated a probe against Deshmukh and his associates after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a first information report (FIR) following a court-directed enquiry into the allegations of corruption and misuse of his official position.

. Singh argued that Deshmukh had been Home Minister between December 2019 to April 2021, which was a period of 15 months.

According to the CBI FIR, a probe was to be conducted into the misuse of Deshmukh's official position which was limited to these 15 months.

The ED, whose probe was based on that FIR, was, however, trying to go beyond the period of 15 months by enquiring into events and transactions much before he was Home Minister, it was contended.

. Singh concluded his arguments for the day by submitting that the applicant was willing to appear through video-conference mode and show whatever documents the agency would demand in response to the summons.

After Singh pointed out that Senior Advocate Vikram Singh Chaudhari will continue the further submissions on the applicant’s behalf, the Court adjourned the hearing to December 6, 2021.

ED case against Anil Deshmukh a witch hunt to topple State government: Hrishikesh Deshmukh to Mumbai court

Neha Joshi

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