PMLA case: Former Maharashtra minister Anil Deshmukh appears before ED

MUMBAI: Former state home minister Anil Deshmukh appeared before the enforcement directorate (ED) office at Ballard Estate area of South Mumbai on Monday to record his statement in a money laundering case.
Around 12 noon on Monday, Deshmukh along with his lawyer and one more person walked in the ED office. It was a surprise for many as Deshmukh was avoiding ED summons since last few months and was in hiding.In the last few months, the ED had raided several places to trace Deshmukh but in vain.
Earlier Deshmukh had approached court asking for protection from arrest and challenging the ED’s money laundering case. But the court refused to grant him any relief.
Before appearing at ED office, Deshmukh released a video recorded message stating that former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh made false allegation against him. In the message, Deshmukh said, "I received ED summons and media wrongly reported that I was not cooperating in the investigation. After every summons by ED, I replied to them stating that my petition was pending before the high court, Supreme Court, after it’s outcome, I would produce myself before the ED. Me, my family and our staff cooperated with the ED during investigation. Earlier also, on CBI summons, I went and recorded my statement. Today I appeared at the ED office."
The money laundering case based on the CBI FIR where former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh has alleged that during his tenure, then state home minister (Deshmukh) had asked now-dismissed police officer Sachin Waze to illegally collect Rs 100 crore from bar owners in the city every month for him. In this case, the CBI is also investigating former State Intelligence Department (SID) chief Rashmi Shukla’s report where it was alleged that some influential people were promising desired posting-transfer to police officers. The SID had recorded the phone conversation of some influential persons who were promising desired posting to police officers, including IPS, for money.
On Sunday, the CBI had arrested a Thane resident, Santosh Jagtap, in the corruption case they are investigating against Deshmukh. The CBI produced Jagtap before a court on Sunday and the court remanded him into CBI custody till November 4. Earlier, in a separate case, the CBI had arrested its sub-inspector Abhishek Tiwari and Deshmukh’s lawyer Anand Daga for making attempt to influence the corruption case investigation.