The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has now filed an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) against former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. The ECIR has been filed under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the corruption charges being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The CBI probe was initiated upon directions from the Bombay High Court. The matter related to bribery allegations made by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh against Deshmukh in a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. In the letter dated March 20, Singh had said that Deshmukh had instructed the now suspended Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Waze to collect Rs 100 crores each month as bribes from bars and restaurants.

Singh had been shunted out in the immediate aftermath of an explosives-laden vehicle being found outside the home of businessman Mukesh Ambani. Waze is being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged role in the case and also the murder of businessman Mansukh Hiran.

Related:

SC dismisses Anil Deshmukh’s plea against Bom HC order for CBI probe
Anil Deshmukh moves SC against Bom HC order directing CBI probe

The post ED files money laundering case against Anil Deshmukh appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The Supreme Court has dismissed the pleas filed by Maharashtra government and former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh challenging the Bombay High Court order directing a probe by an independent agency into corruption allegations made by Ex- Commissioner of Police, Parambir Singh.

The bench of Justices SK Kaul and Hemant Gupta held that the nature of allegations, the persons involved and the seriousness of the allegations do require an independent agency to enquire into the matter.

The court stated that it is a matter of public confidence and it is only a preliminary enquiry. The court refused to take into consideration that since Deshmukh had resigned as Home Minister, the enquiry should not be instituted. “The two personas involved in the case were working together till they fell apart. Both of them were holding high positions. Certainly an independent investigation is needed,” said Justice Kaul.

Further, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal contended that Deshmukh is mandatorily entitled to be heard in his individual capacity even though the State Government was represented and he was a Minister at that time. Sibal further argued that Parambir Singh’s letter is based on hearsay evidence, and he claims no direct knowledge of the allegations, thus, it was important to give Deshmukh an opportunity to be heard. Sibal also proposed that investigation under the monitoring of the High Court or the Supreme Court, instead of the CBI. The court refused to accept this contention and said that the petitioner cannot pick and choose the agency.

“I am vilified unheard. I had to resign. If I was given an opportunity to bring my version on record, this would not have happened”, Sibal said.

The bench, however, was not inclined to interfere with the High Court’s order.

Background

On April 5, the high court directed CBI to probe into the ‘extraordinary and unprecedented’ case within 15 days. The case stems from allegations made by ex-Police Commissioner, Parambir Singh, in an eight-page letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. In the letter written three days after Singh’s posting to the Home Guards, he alleged that Deshmukh asked the now suspended and arrested Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Waze to collect Rs. 100 crore, by tapping the 1,750 bars and restaurants in Mumbai for Rs 40-50 crore every month.

Soon after the Bombay High Court order, Deshmukh had resigned as the state’s Home Minister. “Following the court’s order, it does not seem appropriate that I maintain my post as Home Minister. For this reason, I have decided to distance myself from this designation,” Deshmukh wrote in his letter.

The plea

The grounds on which Deshmukh had challenged the order before the apex court are that the order was passed without giving Deshmukh or state police machinery an opportunity to be heard; it did not take into account the revocation by the government of the general consent for CBI probes; no opportunity was given to the police to investigate into the matter; alternate remedy of approaching Magistrate under section 156(3) of CrPC was not considered.

The plea states that the allegations were made after the ex-commissioner of police was transferred, and the evidence sought to be created with intent and that these aspects need to be looked into before instituting an inquiry by the CBI. He further argues in his petition that the allegations made by Singh are not substantiated and are motivated.

“The erstwhile Commissioner of police has referred to alleged conversations by others, which is pure hearsay, not produced any substantive evidence before Court, that can, in law, be relied upon, and without giving notice to the Petitioner, has handed over investigation to an agency which the State Government has least confidence in. If this principle were to be followed, and courts under Article 226 of the Constitution were to accept bald and motivated statements of this nature, made much after the alleged incidents, without any actionable evidence before Court, then the Petitioner believes that such processes may well be followed to destabilize governments”, the plea states, as reported by LiveLaw.

Deshmukh has also separately filed a Special Leave Petition over the legality of appointment of interim Director of CBI, which has been questioned before the apex court, in a plea filed by NGO Common Cause.

The order may be read here:

Related:

Anil Deshmukh moves SC against Bom HC order directing CBI probe

Corruption accused Anil Deshmukh resigns from Home Minister post

CBI to hold preliminary inquiry against Anil Deshmukh: Bombay HC

Petitions seeking probe against HM “filed for cheap publicity”: Bombay HC

The post SC dismisses Anil Deshmukh’s plea against Bom HC order for CBI probe appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Days after the Bombay High Court directed a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into corruption allegations against former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, the government has challenged it before the Supreme Court. Deshmukh himself has filed another petition challenging the order passed by the bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Dutta and Justice GS Kulkarni.

On April 5, the high court directed CBI to probe into the ‘extraordinary and unprecedented’ case within 15 days. The case stems from allegations made by ex-Police Commissioner, Parambir Singh, in an eight-page letter to Thackeray, three days after his posting to the Home Guards. In it, he alleged that Deshmukh asked the now suspended and arrested Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Waze to collect Rs. 100 crore, by tapping the 1,750 bars and restaurants in Mumbai for Rs 40-50 crore every month.

Soon after the Bombay High Court order, Deshmukh had resigned as the state’s Home Minister. “Following the court’s order, it does not seem appropriate that I maintain my post as Home Minister. For this reason, I have decided to distance myself from this designation,” Deshmukh wrote in his letter.

The plea

The grounds on which Deshmukh had challenged the order before the apex court are that the order was passed without giving Deshmukh or state police machinery an opportunity to be heard; it did not take into account the revocation by the government of the general consent for CBI probes; no opportunity was given to the police to investigate into the matter; alternate remedy of approaching Magistrate under section 156(3) of CrPC was not considered.

The plea states that the allegations were made after the ex-commissioner of police was transferred, and the evidence sought to be created with intent and that these aspects need to be looked into before instituting an inquiry by the CBI. He further argues in his petition that the allegations made by Singh are not substantiated and are motivated.

“The erstwhile Commissioner of police has referred to alleged conversations by others, which is pure hearsay, not produced any substantive evidence before Court, that can, in law, be relied upon, and without giving notice to the Petitioner, has handed over investigation to an agency which the State Government has least confidence in. If this principle were to be followed, and courts under Article 226 of the Constitution were to accept bald and motivated statements of this nature, made much after the alleged incidents, without any actionable evidence before Court, then the Petitioner believes that such processes may well be followed to destabilize governments”, the plea states, as reported by LiveLaw.

Deshmukh has also separately filed a Special Leave Petition over the legality of appointment of interim Director of CBI, which has been questioned before the apex court, in a plea filed by NGO Common Cause.

Related:

Corruption accused Anil Deshmukh resigns from Home Minister post

CBI to hold preliminary inquiry against Anil Deshmukh: Bombay HC

Petitions seeking probe against HM “filed for cheap publicity”: Bombay HC

Param Bir Singh moves Bombay HC seekings CBI probe against Anil Deshmukh

The post Anil Deshmukh moves SC against Bom HC order directing CBI probe appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh resigned from his post on April 5, 2021, hours after the Bombay Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a preliminary probe into corruption allegations levelled against him.

According to the Indian Express, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik said that Deshmukh decided to step down from his post while the inquiry is conducted. He submitted his resignation letter to NCP Chief Sharad Pawar on Monday and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

“Following the court’s order, it does not seem appropriate that I maintain my post as Home Minister. For this reason, I have decided to distance myself from this designation,” Deshmukh wrote in his letter.

According to New18, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been demanding his removal from the Maha Vikas Aghadi government after former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh sent a letter to Thackeray accusing Deshmukh of ordering police officers to collect Rs. 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels in Mumbai.

Related:

Petitions seeking probe against HM “filed for cheap publicity”: Bombay HC

Param Bir Singh moves Bombay HC seekings CBI probe against Anil Deshmukh

SC directs Param Bir Singh to approach Bombay HC

Bom HC: Two petitions filed seeking probe into corruption allegations against Maha gov’t 

Parambir Singh-Sachin Vaze controversy: Will Maha Vikas Aghadi survive?

The post Corruption accused Anil Deshmukh resigns from Home Minister post appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The Bombay High Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on April 5, 2021 to carry out ‘preliminary inquiry’ into corruption allegations against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh. Deshmukh has since resigned and Bar and Bench reports, could be considering challenging the Bombay HC order in the Supreme Court.

According to the Indian Express, Bombay High Court Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G. S. Kulkarni directed the CBI to complete the probe regarding the ‘extraordinary and unprecedented’ case within 15 days, following which the Bureau is free to take further action.

The decision also considered a criminal writ plea by city-based lawyer Jaishri Patil, who sought an independent probe for the corruption allegations filed by her at Malabar Hill Police station against Deshmukh and others. Although Patil had approached authorities, the court found her complaint was not filed in the station diary.

“We agree with Jaishri Patil that directions are required to order an unbiased probe to unearth the truth. There can be no independent probe if it is given to police as Deshmukh is the Home Minister. The interest of justice will be done if the Director of CBI is allowed to conduct a preliminary inquiry,” said the bench.

Patil’s plea also sought directions to secure CCTV footage of areas where alleged criminal conspiracy took place in the Ambani house bomb scare case as per Singh’s letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. The court said that the CBI need not register an FIR immediately or take up Patil’s complaint. Further, it also granted “liberty to Singh to make a grievance, if any, before an appropriate forum.”

The ex-Police Commissioner had written the eight-page letter to Thackeray, three days after his posting to the Home Guards. In it, he alleged that Deshmukh asked the now suspended and arrested Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Waze to collect Rs. 100 crore, including Rs 40-50 crore from 1,750 bars and restaurants in Mumbai, every month.

Previously, the bench repeatedly asked Singh about the absence of an FIR for his allegations against Deshmukh. It questioned whether Singh had faith in his own police force.

“Where is FIR? You have to approach the police/agency with an FIR. Our prima facie observation [with respect to prayer seeking CBI probe] is that there cannot be investigation without FIR,” the bench said, questioning the maintainability of Singh’s PIL.

Singh’s plea also mentioned a report by State Intelligence Department’s 2020- Commissioner Intelligence Rashmi Shukla, who pointed out to the Director-General of Police (DGP) about corruption in postings and transfers in Maharashtra. The DGP later brought this knowledge to the attention of the Additional Chief Secretary (Home).

The entire order may be read here: 

Petitions seeking probe against HM “filed for cheap publicity”: Bombay HC

Param Bir Singh moves Bombay HC seekings CBI probe against Anil Deshmukh

SC directs Param Bir Singh to approach Bombay HC

Bom HC: Two petitions filed seeking probe into corruption allegations against Maha gov’t 

Parambir Singh-Sachin Vaze controversy: Will Maha Vikas Aghadi survive?

The post CBI to hold preliminary inquiry against Anil Deshmukh: Bombay HC appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Explosives, extortion, and a trigger-happy cop… The story so far has had all the elements of a Bollywood pot-boiler. Maharashtra’s political theater is once again buzzing with high drama, but how did we get here? Let’s take a brief look at history to figure out what lies ahead for the Maharashtra state government.

Rise, fall and resurrection of an “Urban Cowboy”

It all began in the 90s when extra-judicial killings dubbed “encounters” were the de rigueur as the Mumbai Police attempted to take down the Mumbai underworld.

In the late 90s Parambir Singh was a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in the Mumbai Crime Branch. Over the years as the police went about their ambitious plan to dismantle the stranglehold the mafia had over the city, the violence was virtually legitimised with “encounter specialist” cops being touted as heroes. Daya Nayak, Pradeep Sharma and Sachin Vaze were among those who gained notoriety during this period.  

A January 2003 article in the Time Magazine called the encounter specialists “Urban Cowboys”.

It is noteworthy that Vaze was suspended along with 14 other policemen following accusations of having a hand in the alleged disappearance of Khawaja Yunus, a young man who was allegedly killed in police custody in 2002 after being falsely implicated in the Ghatkopar blasts. Vaze had claimed that Yunus had escaped when the vehicle transporting him fell into a ditch.

However, Vaze was reinstated in June last year after a review committee headed by Singh, who had by then become the Mumbai Police Commissioner, approved the move.

Shortly after that Vaze was posted to the Crime Branch and was part of investigations in many high-profile cases including the TRP scam, Anvay Nayak suicide case where Arnab Goswami has been accused of abetment.

Interestingly, Khwaja Yunus’s mother Asiya Begum has challenged Vaze’s reinstatement and the case comes up for hearing next on March 31.

Ambani security scare

On February 25, 2021, an explosives laden vehicle was found in the vicinity of Antilia, the residence of billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani who is perceived to be close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A Scorpio containing 20 gelatin sticks was recovered from Carmichael Road after one of Ambani’s security officers informed the police about noticing an abandoned vehicle. The Bomb Squad and the Crime Branch’s Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU), of which Sachin Vaze was a part, reached the spot.

The owner of the vehicle Hiren Mansukh had reported it stolen after he was forced to leave it near the Airoli Mulund bridge on the night of February 17 when the vehicle’s steering wheel got jammed. Mansukh, a Thane-based businessman, had even registered a police complaint about the stolen vehicle.

However, on March 4, Mansukh went missing. On March 5, Leader of the Opposition Devendra Fadnavis alleged a link between Vaze and Mansukh. On the same day, Mansukh’s body was found in a creek near Mumbra. Shortly after this his widow alleged that Vaze was involved in Mansukh’s death. The state Home Department then handed over the case of Mansukh’s death and the recovery of the explosives-laden Scorpio to the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).

On March 8, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over investigations into the original case involving the recovery of the Scorpio, though the Hiren Mansukh death case remained with the ATS.

Vaze had till then been leading investigations in the Ambani security scare case, but no breakthrough had been made. On March 13, following nearly ten hours of interrogation, Vaze was taken into custody by the NIA.

Vaze was arrested under IPC sections 286 (negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance) 465 (forgery), 473 (making or possessing counterfeit seal with intent to commit forgery), 506(2) (criminal intimidation), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and also provisions of the Explosive Substances Act. A special NIA court then remanded Vaze to NIA custody till March 25.

Meanwhile, Vaze was suspended yet again on March 15, but in a shocking twist Mumbai Police Commissioner Parambir Singh was also shunted out after being posted as DG Homeguards. Hemant Nagrale took over as Police Commissioner. The soft-spoken Nagrale is known to keep a low profile and has previously served as DGP (Technical and Legal). The reason for Singh’s sudden transfer was given as serious lapses in investigation.

Parambir Singh’s shocking revelations

But what has now set the cat among the pigeons is a letter that Singh wrote to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray claiming that he was being made a scapegoat to divert attention from a bigger problem, that of corruption. Singh alleged that Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had instructed police officers to collect bribes worth at least Rs 100 crores a month from bars. The text of the letter has been shared widely in the media.

Singh says in his letter dated March 20, 2021, “Shri Sachin Vaze who was heading the Crime Intelligence Unit of the Crime Branch of the Mumbai Police was called by Shri Anil Deshmukh, Hon’ble Home Minister, Maharashtra to his official residence Dyaneshwar several times in last few months and repeatedly instructed to assist in collection of funds for the Hon’ble Home Minister. In and around mid-February and thereafter, the Hon’ble Home Minister had called Shri Vaze to his official residence. At that time, one or two staff members of the Hon’ble Home Minister including his Personal Secretary, Mr. Palande, were also present. The Hon’ble Home Minister expressed to Shri Vaze that he had a target to accumulate Rs. 100 crores a month. For achieving the aforesaid target, the Hon’ble Home Minister told Shri Vaze that there are about 1,750 bars, restaurants and other establishments in Mumbai and if a sum of Rs. 2-3 lakhs each was collected from each of 3 them, a monthly collection of Rs. 40-50 crores was achievable. The Hon’ble Home Minister added that the rest of the collection could be made from other sources.”

He further says that Vaze immediately informed him about this and a few days later two other policemen: Sanjay Patil, ACP, Social Service Branch, and DCP Bhujbal had a similar meeting with Deshmukh.

Deshmukh refutes claims, but alliance under strain

Shortly after Singh made the shocking allegations, there have been demands for Anil Deshmukh’s ouster as Home Minister. Deshmukh predictably denied all claims and said, “The former Commissioner of Police, Parambir Singh has made false allegations in order to save himself as the involvement of Sachin Waze in Mukesh Ambani & Mansukh Hiren’s case is becoming clearer from the investigation carried out so far & threads are leading to Mr. Singh as well.”

On March 20, Deshmukh released the following press statement calling Singh’s allegations “false and baseless” and saying that he was going to file a defamation case against Singh.

pic.twitter.com/gTEqs1cvSr

— ANIL DESHMUKH (@AnilDeshmukhNCP) March 21, 2021

In a video statement released today, on March 22, Deshmukh presented his timeline of events to prove that the allegations against him were false. “I was admitted to Nagpur’s Alexis Hospital between February 5 and 15 as I was suffering from Covid. When I was discharged there were several journalists waiting to get my quotes at the gate, but I was feeling weak and went and sat in my car without talking to them. Then I was in home quarantine till February 27 and on February 28 I stepped out of my home for the first time and went to Sahyadri Guest House.”

pic.twitter.com/s0Mm8bh2PE

— ANIL DESHMUKH (@AnilDeshmukhNCP) March 22, 2021

Meanwhile, Parambir Singh has moved Supreme Court demanding a CBI inquiry against Deshmukh. The Hindustan Times reports that Singh’s writ petition accuses Deshmukh of interfering in various investigations. Singh has sought an “unbiased, uninfluenced, impartial and fair investigation” into the allegedly “corrupt malpractices” of Deshmukh. He once again claimed that his transfer was “for reasons smeared with malice”. 

But the bigger question is, given how Deshmukh has become a political hot potato, will the Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP alliance jettison him in a bid to survive this controversy or stand by him?

Related:

Suspension order of accused cops revoked, Khwaja Yunus’s mother moves Bombay HC

The post Parambir Singh-Sachin Vaze controversy: Will Maha Vikas Aghadi survive? appeared first on SabrangIndia.

It is no secret that the Palghar lynching case, where two religious leaders of the majority community who were on their way to Gujarat were allegedly lynched in the tribal dominated region of Palghar near Mumbai, had become deeply communal over the last few days.

On April 16, the two ‘saadhus’ and their driver were on their way to Silvassa to attend a funeral. When they were crossing Palghar district, tribals allegedly surrounded their vehicle in Gadhchinchale and the men were lynched. It is said that the attackers suspected the men of being thieves. When police tried to rescue the men, even they were injured seriously.

The victims, identified as two sadhus of the Juna Akhara, Chike Maharaj Kalpavruksh Giri (70) and Sushilgiri Maharaj (35) were seen wearing saffron dhotis and kurtas in the video of the incident that was being circulated. They were identified as being from an ashram in Kandivali who were travelling to Surat to attend a funeral. The third victim was Nilesh Telgade (30), the driver of the van they were travelling in.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had to step in to diffuse tension by reassuring that a thorough investigation would take place.

The Palghar incident has been acted upon. The police has arrested all those accused who attacked the 2 sadhus, 1 driver and the police personnel, on the day of the crime itself.

— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) April 19, 2020

Now, after the matter got a strong communal hue because of rumour mills and even a section of the media, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh released on Twitter names of all the 101 accused arrested in the case, pointing out that not even one of them was Muslim.

The list of the 101 arrested in the #Palghar incident. Especially sharing for those who were trying to make this a communal issue.. pic.twitter.com/pfZnuMCd3x

— ANIL DESHMUKH (@AnilDeshmukhNCP) April 22, 2020

In a Facebook live video from his official page, Deshmukh also said, “The matter is now being investigated by the CID. The police took 101 people into custody within eight days of this tragic incident. Not even one of them is Muslim. People mis-heard ‘oye-bas’ as ‘Shoaib’ and gave the rumours a communal colour.”

He added, “This is not the time to play politics, but unite together to fight the Coronavirus. Instead, some people are having ‘Mungerilal ke haseen sapne’ and that is unfortunate.” The home minister used a pop-culture reference to an old television show where the protagonist just imagined in his dreams, things that didn’t actually happen. The complete video may be viewed here:

Deshmukh had also urged people in a previous tweet to not fall for rumours, “Palghar mob lynching is a grotesque incident which happened due to rumours on social media about child kidnappers & thieves prowling in the area. A high level inquiry is going on & meanwhile people are requested not to fall for rumours & verify the facts from trusted sources.”

Palghar mob lynching is a grotesque incident which happened due to rumours on social media about child kidnappers & thieves prowling in the area. A high level inquiry is going on & meanwhile people are requested not to fall for rumours & verify the facts from trusted sources.

— ANIL DESHMUKH (@AnilDeshmukhNCP) April 22, 2020

Related:

Palghar lynch mob accuses three men of theft, kills them
101 adults arrested, 9 minors detained in Palghar lynching case

The post Palghar lynching case: Maha Home Minister releases list of accused, says none are Muslim appeared first on SabrangIndia.