Mumbai court allows Sachin Waze to turn approver against Anil Deshmukh in corruption case

A Mumbai court on Wednesday approved the plea by dismissed Mumbai police officer Sachin Waze to become an approver in the corruption case against former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh..Waze had written to the Court and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is investigating the case, to be made an approver. The CBI had given its nod stating that Waze fulfilled the requirement and conditions in law for the same. Special CBI Judge DP Shingade today told Waze that his plea for grant of pardon has been accepted subject to the following conditions.Waze will have to make full and honest disclosure of facts known to him in relation to the offence;He has to correctly and truthfully answer questions put to him during the trial by the special public prosecutor.When Waze accepted the conditions, the Court allowed his plea..According to the order, Waze will no longer be an accused in the case and will not be charged by the CBI. The CBI is expected to file the chargesheet by tomorrow.Waze will henceforth be considered a prosecution witness, whose testimony can be used against his co-accused including Deshmukh..The CBI Court did not permit the other co-accused to be heard on Waze’s request as the Court found no provision in law to hear them on the plea seeking pardon.Waze has also made a similar request to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the money laundering case arising out the CBI FIR.No steps have been taken so far by the ED or Waze on the letter..In the CBI case, Waze was arrested in April last year. He moved an application to become an approver through his lawyer Rounak Naik.Waze alleged that it was on Deshmukh’s instructions that he had collected bribes from restaurants and bar owners.Waze continues to be an accused in the money laundering case.Waze is also an accused in murder of one Mansukh Hiren in the explosive laden-SUV case filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in which it has been alleged that he planted explosives in a vehicle owned by Hiren and parked it near the residence of businessman Mukesh Ambani. Hiren was subsequently found dead.