In a money laundering case brought by the Enforcement Directorate, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday granted bail to former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. However, the judgment was postponed till October 13 to allow the Enforcement Directorate to appeal the decision.
Stay on the execution of order till October 13 following appeal by ED.
The court observed in the decision that two components of credits in the account of a trust held by the Deshmukh family were not “criminal proceeds.”
The leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), who was arrested on November 2, 2021, is also being investigated by the CBI for corruption (CBI).
But regardless of the Supreme Court’s decision, Mr. Deshmukh is unlikely to be released from prison even after October 13 due to the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) case against him.
Bail by Court
In his ruling, Justice N.J. Jamadar stated that the bail request had been granted and that Deshmukh will be released on a Rs 1 lakh bond. Deshmukh must not tamper with evidence after being released, according to a high court order. It further stated that he must appear in court on all scheduled dates and surrender his passport.
 The ED had requested a two-week stay on the execution of the judgment, citing the fact that the Supreme Court is now closed for the Dussehra holidays and will resume on Monday, October 10.
Deshmukh’s attorney opposed it and stated that the agency might appeal in the Supreme Court even while on vacation and that the applicant was not entitled to be released on bail because he was being held for a CBI case. The bail order, the court said, will go into force on October 13.
Reasons of arrest
The case began on March 20, 2021, when Param Bir Singh, a former police commissioner of Mumbai, accused Mr. Deshmukh of misusing his position and authority to obtain illegal financial benefits in a letter to Uddhav Thackeray, the then-chief minister.
According to the ED, Deshmukh improperly utilized his position to accumulate Rs. 4.70 crores from numerous Mumbai bars and eateries. It stated that the cash was transferred to the Deshmukh family-controlled Shri Sai Shikshan Sansthan, a Nagpur-based educational organization.
Deshmukh, a minister in the former Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress coalition government, is being held in Mumbai’s Arthur Road jail.
In response to allegations of extortion made by the former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh, the CBI filed a case against Deshmukh, and the ED began an inquiry into him.
On April 5, 2021, the High Court ordered the CBI to conduct a preliminary investigation on Mr. Deshmukh. Soon after, the ED intervened and began looking into Mr. Deshmukh’s alleged involvement in money laundering.
An FIR was filed against Mr. Deshmukh on April 21, 2021, alleging violations of sections 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and 120 B of the Indian Penal Code (public servant receiving payment other than legal remuneration in connection with the official act).
According to the ED, Deshmukh improperly utilized his position to accumulate Rs. 4.70 crores from numerous Mumbai bars and eateries. It stated that the cash was transferred to the Deshmukh family-controlled Shri Sai Shikshan Sansthan, a Nagpur-based educational organization.
Pleadings advanced by attorney
Deshmukh’s attorney had stated that Waze had something to gain from making the accusations against Deshmukh because he turned approver in the case after being turned down as a police officer after being arrested in the Antilia bomb scare case.
In a money laundering case brought by the Enforcement Directorate, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday granted bail to former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. However, the judgment was postponed till October 13 to allow the Enforcement Directorate to appeal the decision.
In March 2021, IPS officer Param Bir Singh claimed that Deshmukh, the home minister at the time, had set a goal for police officials to collect Rs 100 crore from Mumbai’s eateries and bars each month. Similar accusations were also made by former assistant police inspector Waze, who was detained in the Antilia investigation in March 2021.
In April 2021, the high court ordered the CBI to launch a preliminary probe. Based on this investigation, the CBI filed an FIR for alleged corruption and abuse of official authority against Deshmukh and his collaborators.
Deshmukh’s attorneys, Vikram Chaudhari and Aniket Nikam argued at the hearing that the man should be given bail due to his age (72), health, and lack of prior criminal history. He could receive care in the correctional hospital, according to the ED.
Since his bail request had been waiting for six months, the Supreme Court had already requested that the HC expedite the hearing.
