Anil Deshmukh files bail plea in money laundering case

Deshmukh, through his lawyer Aniket Nikam, said in his plea that he was sent to judicial custody that extended beyond the stipulated 60 days as per the Criminal Procedure Code and hence, he should be released on statutory bail.

Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh (file photo)

Former state home minister Anil Deshmukh on Tuesday filed a bail application before the special court in Mumbai, two months after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case.

The court is likely to hear the arguments on Wednesday. This is first bail application filed by Deshmukh who was arrested on November 2. Deshmukh, through his lawyer Aniket Nikam, said in his plea that he was sent to judicial custody that extended beyond the stipulated 60 days as per the Criminal Procedure Code and hence, he should be released on statutory bail.

The plea stated that there is an embargo in extending his custody beyond 60 days. “That in a surreptitious manner, without disclosing to this Honourable Court that the statutory period of 60 days shall expire on January 1, 2022, the respondents (ED) obtained remand… till January 9 when the matter was listed on December 27, 2021.”

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The ED filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) against Deshmukh on December 29, 2021. His bail plea said that the court is yet to take cognizance of the chargesheet, which is a prerequisite for the purpose of granting remand.

“Thus, on the expiry of the said period of 60 days, if investigation is not completed and cognizance is not taken, an indefeasible right of statutory bail accrues to the accused…,” the plea added.

The ED has claimed that Deshmukh is the primary beneficiary of the alleged bribe collected by dismissed Mumbai Police officer Sachin Waze from bar owners between December 2019-March 2020.

While the first chargesheet in the case named 14 people — Waze being one of them — as accused, the supplementary chargesheet has named 12 others, including Deshmukh, his sons Salil and Hrishikesh and companies allegedly linked to them.

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