The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is carrying out searches at the residence of former Maharashtra state home minister Anil Deshmukh. The federal agency has registered a money laundering case based on the offence registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). According to sources, searches are underway at the Nagpur residence of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader. Earlier in April, the Bombay High Court had directed the CBI to investigate the allegations of graft made by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh. Following which, a preliminary enquiry was commenced and subsequently, an FIR was registered against Deshmukh. The FIR has been registered under Sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC and Section 7 (public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. In his eight-page letter addressed to the CM Uddhav Thackeray, Singh had alleged that Deshmukh had directed dismissed police officer Sachin Vaze to collect Rs 100 crore every month, including Rs 40-50 crore from some 1750 bars and restaurants in Mumbai.
In May after registering the FIR, CBI also carried out searches at multiple locations in Mumbai and Nagpur. According to sources, the probe has revealed clutches of shell companies allegedly floated by Desmukh in the names of his relatives that were allegedly used to divert funds. “These companies are based in Kolkatta and were used for the purpose of diversion of funds. Deshmukh’s questioning is required on these companies, their source of funds and the ultimate beneficiary is required to be ascertained,” said an official privy to the development. Deshmukh has challenged the CBI’s probe against him before the Bombay High Court. The searches come in the backdrop of the Rashtra Manch – a cross-party platform that was launched in 2018 as a political action group meeting at the New Delhi residence of NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar.
