New Delhi: A special Mumbai court accepted dismissed police officer Sachin Waze’s plea to turn approver in a corruption case against former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh, reported news agency PTI.
Waze, claimed in a application filed before the CBI Court that he had cooperated with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) before and after his arrest, following which his confessional statement was recorded before a magistrate under provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
In response to Waze’s application, the investigation agency had given its nod to Waze's plea, subject to certain conditions.
Special judge D P Shingade on Wednesday allowed Waze's plea.
"Your application is awarded to you, but subject to certain conditions," the judge said.
Following the court order, Waze can now depose as a prosecution witness in the case.
The dismissed police officer was arrested in March last year for his alleged role in the case of an explosives-laden vehicle found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence in south Mumbai and the murder of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran.
Currently, Waze is in judicial custody.
In March 2021, former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh had alleged that Anil Deshmukh, who was then the home minister of Maharashtra, had given a target to police officers to collect Rs 100 crore per month from restaurants and bars in the metropolis.
An FIR was lodged against Deshmukh, Waze and others by the CBI following an order of the Bombay High Court last April.
After the HC order, NCP leader Deshmukh had resigned from the state cabinet.