Bombay High Court refuses further extension on stay of order granting bail to Anil Deshmukh

A vacation bench of Bombay High Court on Tuesday refused to extend the stay on the order granting bail to former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in a corruption case..Justice MS Karnik had granted bail to Deshmukh in the corruption case on December 12, 2022. However, he had also stated that the order will be made effective after a period of 10 days to enable he Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file an appeal against the order. The said 10-day period was to end on December 21. However, on a request made by the CBI, the High Court had on December 21, extended the stay till today, December 27.The CBI today requested further extension of stay today but the same was not allowed.Justice Karnik recorded in the order that "no further request of extension under any circumstances will be entertained".The vacation court of single-judge Justice SG Chapalgaonkar refused to grant any further extension relying on the direction given by Justice Karnik. "How can a vacation court over ride regular court order? Request cannot be entertained. Interim application is rejected," the vacation judge held..Advocate Shreeram Shirsat appearing for the agency submitted that even though an appeal has been filed in Supreme Court challenging bail order, they have been unable to get it listed for urgent hearing. He requested that if not 3 days, at least a day's extension be granted. Advocate Aniket Nikam appearing for Deshmukh opposed grant of any relief. He pointed out the clarificatory direction in Justice Karnik's order and said that since the agency has not been able to show the urgency in Supreme Court, they were asking the High Court to grant relief. .Deshmukh is embroiled in two investigations arising from same allegation - one by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for offence of corruption and the other by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for the offence of money laundering.He granted bail in the money laundering case by the High Court on October 4. On December 12, the High Court ordered for his release on bail in the corruption case.Supreme Court has already dismissed appeal filed by the Enforcement Directorate challenging bail granted in the money laundering case.In the event, CBI is unable to get any relief from the apex court in the corruption case, Deshmukh will be released from prison upon furnishing bail bonds in each case.