Maharashtra government trying to frustrate probe against Anil Deshmukh: CBI to Bombay High Court

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday told the Bombay High Court that the Maharashtra government was attempting to "frustrate" the ongoing corruption probe against former State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh (State of Maharashtra vs. Central Bureau of Investigation)..The CBI was opposing the Maharashtra government's plea seeking a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case relating to an FIR registered by the CBI against Deshmukh.The country's premier investigation agency questioned the Maharashtra government's locus standi to approach the Court for quashing summons issued to State Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjay Pandey and Chief Secretary Sitaram Kunte. .Additional Solicitor General Aman Lekhi urged that the plea was an attempt to scuttle and derail the probe against Deshmukh.He urged the Court not to grant any relief to the State in this matter related to the CBI's probe into police transfers.Lekhi argued that the State had failed to initiate a probe into the allegations of misconduct and corruption made against Deshmukh earlier this year by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, which invited an order of the High Court of April 5 to initiate a CBI probe.“It shows there was no intent to investigate or inquire and to punish the wrongdoers. Therefore, the Maharashtra government is least competent by its conduct," Lekhi said."Because of its incompetence and its conduct, State does not deserve any relief from this court. It is persistently and rather shamelessly continuing with its endeavor to frustrate (the ongoing probe) and to ensure it doesn’t take place,” he said..Lekhi argued that when Jaiswal was appointed CBI Director in May this year, the Maharashtra government did not raise any objections before the High Court or the Supreme Court, and so present plea was filed belatedly.“It is a make-believe plea with a strategy to target the CBI Director, as State does not want the investigation," he added..Senior Advocate Darius Khambata representing the State, contended that the CBI probe was affecting the entire State police force and hence it had filed the plea under the parens patriae (provider of protection to those who are unable to take care for themselves) doctrine..The Maharashtra government stated in its petition that its officers were being “harassed” under the garb of investigation.It stated that after the Mumbai Police issued summons to CBI Director Subodh Kumar Jaiswal to appear in connection with the alleged illegal phone-tapping case, the CBI issued summons to Kunte and DGP Pandey asking them to appear before it regarding the Deshmukh case..Khambata had previously contended that while the State did not want to scuttle the investigation, the CBI could not continue with a compromised and pre-determined investigation as its current Director was party-signatory to the minutes of the Police Establishment Meeting, and used to oversee transfers and postings of police officers as the State DGP..The Bench of Justices Nitin Jamdar and SV Kotwal will continue the hearing on Monday, November 22..Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.