CBI files chargesheet against Anil Deshmukh, his secretary and assistant in corruption case

The case was based on allegations that Waze was instructed by Deshmukh to collect bribes from bars and restaurant owners for relaxing hours of their functioning amid the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. The CBI had claimed that the bribe was collected by Waze and handed over to Deshmukh through his staff.

“A preliminary inquiry was earlier registered by the CBI on April 6, 2021, against the then Home Minister, Government of Maharashtra and others on the orders dated April 5, 2021, of High Court of Bombay in PIL No.06/2021. It was revealed during the inquiry that the said accused and others allegedly attempted to obtain undue advantage for the improper and dishonest performance of their public duties. It was also alleged that the said accused and others exercised undue influence over the transfers and postings of police officers,” read the press note issued by the agency.

Accordingly, on April 21, 2021, a case was registered against then Deshmukh and others. Waze, who was also arrested in the case, recently sought pardon in the case, which was allowed by the court on Wednesday. He is no longer named as an accused in the case and will testify as a prosecution witness for the CBI against the co-accused.

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Based on this, the ED also filed a separate complaint, alleging that there was money laundering of the bribe amount.

Deshmukh had denied these allegations stating that the case resulted from political vendetta. He has been behind bars in the ED case since last year.