Enforcement Directorate ( ED ) has filed a charge sheet against Anil Deshmukh, the former Home Minister of Maharashtra in connection with a money laundering case before the special PMLA court.
In the second charge sheet that has been filed in relation to the case, the ED has also named Anil’s sons Hrishikesh and Salil. It also includes statements from Deshmukh, Sitaram Kunte ( former Chief Secretary of Maharashtra ), Param Bir Singh ( former Mumbai Police Commissioner ), and others. The first sheet was filed back in August against Deshmukh’s Nagpur-based trust called Shri Sai Shikshan Sanstha, Sanjeev Palande ( his personal assistant then ), and Kundan Shinde ( personal assistant ) including some more.
Deshmukh was arrested by the police on 2nd November and is in jail custody presently. The statements of a few IPS-SPS cadre officers are also included in the charge sheet filed. These officers allegedly received their posting on the recommendation of Deshmukh when he was the Home Minister of the state. The statement of Rashmi Shukla ( former State Intelligence Department Commissioner ) could not be recorded by the ED. Her statement holds importance because she had the recorded telephone conversations of some of the influential people who were allegedly discussing the transfer of police officers for money.
Shukla had recorded these conversations and submitted them to Subodh Jaiswal ( then DGP ) who sent it to then ACS Kunte to discuss the report with the CM. But the government never took the required action and Subodh transferred to the central govt.
The ED has examined this allegation against Deshmukh for favoring the officers to get desirable posting for consideration based merely on some statements and documents. Deshmukh is being investigated for two aspects, in this case, one is the money laundering case that was registered based on the CBI’s FIR, and the other is the misuse of his power in the capacity of Home Minister of the state. Deshmukh had asked assistant Police Inspector, Sachin Waze ( now dismissed ) to collect Rs. 100 Crore from restaurant owners and bars every month. He is also been examined in the case for favoring the police officers.
The ED has alleged Deshmukh’s family’s participation in the indirect control or management of 27 companies that were used to launder money and the money laundered was then shown as donations made to his Nagpur trust by the Delhi-based company. The second charge sheet acts as a supplementary charge sheet to the money laundering case which was filed earlier this year against the bribes taken from bar owners. Deshmukh who is yet to file bail papers has refused all allegations and pointed out there was no evidence against him.
People’s hard-earned money sometimes is used as bribes and more often than not, if an influential person misuses his power it does not get the limelight it deserves. These processes should be made as transparent as possible and the citizens have a right to witness what their leaders do with the power they are given.
