New Delhi: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday granted bail while hearing the petition of former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in an alleged money laundering case, as reported by news agency PTI. Earlier, the Supreme Court had directed the Bombay High Court to hear it within a week and give its decision expeditiously. After which, Justice NJ Jamadar reserved the order after the arguments were completed.
The case registered against Deshmukh is of money laundering, for which his lawyers Vikram Chaudhari and Aniket Nikam argued that considering his age (72), health and the fact that he had no criminal antecedents he should be granted bail.
On the other hand, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) protested against the petition. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the ED, opposed the application saying that Deshmukh does not have any disease which cannot be treated in a jail hospital. Therefore, the High Court should dismiss this petition.
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Allegations Against Deshmukh
Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh had accused Deshmukh of corruption. At the same time, after these allegations, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered a corruption case against Deshmukh, after which the ED was also investigating it by registering a case. Deshmukh was arrested by the ED in November 2021 only during the investigation, after which he is in judicial custody.
In the case registered by the ED against Deshmukh, it has been claimed that he misused his official position. Deshmukh collected around Rs 4.7 crore from various bars and restaurants in Mumbai. Along with this, it is alleged that Deshmukh provided the money earned by him to the Shri Sai Educational Institute in Nagpur, an educational trust controlled by his family.