ED Issues Look Out Circular Against Anil Deshmukh After Former Maharashtra HM Missed Multiple Summons

The move comes as the Supreme Court had refused to offer Deshmukh interim relief from coercive action in the lawsuit last month.

A Look Out Circular will prevent the former minister from leaving the country. (File Photo)

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a lookout circular (LOC) against former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in connection with a Rs. 100 crore money laundering case that had forced him to resign from his ministerial position.

A Look Out Circular will prevent the former minister from leaving the country, now, immigration officials at airports, ports, and road borders are authorised to detain Anil Deshmukh in case he tries to leave India news reports say. 

The move comes as the Supreme Court had refused to offer Deshmukh interim relief from coercive action in the lawsuit last month.

The ED had registered a case against Anil Deshmukh and others after the CBI registered a case in connection with the alleged corruption case involving former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh's Rs 100 crore bribery charges. Deshmukh was then the Home Minister in the Mahavikas Aghadi government.

Deshmukh, had not appeared for multiple summons by the ED and claimed that Parambir Singh made allegations against him for being removed from the post of Mumbai Police Commissioner. 

The ED has recorded two statements of a jailed police officer, case accused Sachin Waze and the agency may now question Parab regarding this. Waze was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the discovery of an explosive-laden vehicle, outside billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Mumbai home.

Waze had earlier alleged in a letter that Parab had asked him in January 2021 to investigate "fraudulent" contractors listed in the Mumbai municipal body and collect at least Rs 2 crore from them. Waze had demanded that the letter be produced before the court. Parab rejecting Waze's allegations and said that he was ready for a probe into the allegations.

The CBI had registered an FIR against Anil Deshmukh on April 21, 2021 based on an order by the Bombay High court order. Deshmukh has repeatedly denied any allegation against him.  

The ED has arrested Anil Deshmukh's personal secretary and personal assistant following raids in Mumbai and Nagpur on them and the NCP leader. His son-in-law was previously questioned by the CBI regarding the leak of an inquiry report.