Maharashtra government should co-operate instead of raising objections: CBI to Bombay High Court in challenge to parts of Anil Deshmukh FIR

Instead of raising objections, the Maharashtra government should co-operate with the investigation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said before the Bombay High Court on Monday in the plea challenging certain portions of the First Information Report (FIR) registered against former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh..During today's hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh made submissions on behalf of CBI before the Bench of Justices SS Shinde and NJ Jamadar.Mehta stated that by removing the paragraphs in the FIR, the State was seeking to dilute the mandate issued by the Court, which had called for a probe into the matter. He added that the order was to investigate into Dr. Jaishri Patil's complaint, which included the letter written by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh..The SG stated that both the documents included details about Mumbai cop Sachin Waze and his meeting with Deshmukh.He added that by virtue of its petition challenging portions of the FIR, the government was trying to avoid investigation into the reinstatement of Waze and whether Deshmukh exercised undue influence over the posting of officials."Why the person of the level of police inspector has direct access with a Home Minister? This is not a normal phenomenon," Mehta argued, adding that the letter had "assertions which is subject of the investigation"..SG Mehta also referred to the order of the Supreme Court dismissing the appeal filed by the State government and Deshmukh against the High Court order calling for a probe. He said that the apex court observed that Deshmukh and Singh were in important positions and that there were allegations against the system. Hence it was not right for the High Court to intervene in the investigation, Mehta urged..Citing the order of the High Court passed on April 5, 2021, ASG Singh submitted that the Division Bench observed that it should be a fair and honest investigation and in larger social interest. He added that the Court had entrusted CBI with the investigation into allegations against a former Minister of the State, as a probe by the State Police would be expected to be impartial. Singh submitted that Param Bir Singh's letter did not limit itself to the alleged extortion charges, but also mentioned other deeds which included Deshmukh's influence over transfers and postings. .The Bench, according to ASG Singh, had to consider the ultimate purpose and intent of the High Court's April 5 order. "Why would the State be scared of this? Every State should come forward and co-operate in cases of corruption. In such a matter, instead of raising objection, the State should have come forward and co-operated. We have to clean the administration. Therefore, investigation into corruption has to be done," Singh argued. .A Bench asked Mehta if CBI was also going to investigate into the committee which had reinstated Waze along with Deshmukh.Mehta quipped that CBI was conducting was an issue-centric investigation, and not a people-centric investigation. He added that since the issues arising from the FIR were so intrinsically connected, it was important for CBI to investigate them.The SG concluded his submissions by stating that petitions under Section 482 of Code of Criminal Procedure and Article 226 of the Constitution were being used to steer the investigation in a particular way, and that the present was being used as an excuse to not comply with the order of the High Court.