Money Laundering Case: Anil Deshmukh Skips ED Summon Over 'Covid Fear'; Requests To Record Statement Online

In a letter to the Enforcement Directorate, Deshmukh cited Covid fear the reason behind skipping the summon. He requested the ED to record "statement on audio/visual mode".

Anil Deshmukh

Mumbai: Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has once again missed to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in connection with a money laundering case against the politician related to charges of bribery of Rs 100 crore.

In a letter to the Enforcement Directorate, Deshmukh cited Covid fear the reason behind skipping the summon. He requested the ED to record "statement on audio/visual mode of any nature of your choice at whatever time convenient." 

ED had summoned former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh for questioning today in connection with an alleged money laundering case. 

Last week as well, Deshmukh skipped the summons on Saturday, and filed an application seeking time for him to appear before the ED. His lawyers said that Deshmukh is willing to cooperate with the agency in their investigation. 

Anil Deshmukh's lawyer, Advocate Jaywant Patil on Saturday said, "We've given the letter to ED & asked them to furnish documents based on which we're to be questioned as we don't have any knowledge about the line of investigation. So we're unable to appear for questioning. Now ED has to take a call on it." 

The ED case against Anil Deshmukh and others was made out after the CBI first carried out a preliminary inquiry followed by a regular case being filed on the orders of the Bombay High Court.

The court had asked the Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI to look into the allegations of bribery made against Deshmukh by former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh.

Anil Deshmukh, who had resigned from his post in April following the allegations, has denied any wrongdoing