Former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday for questioning in a money laundering case.
Anil Deshmukh, in an open letter, said that false allegations were being made against him that he was not cooperating with central agencies. "A false narrative and an erroneous impression is being created by vested interests that I am evading or avoiding to appear before the Enforcement Directorate. Undoubtedly, such propaganda is absolutely baseless," Anil Deshmukh said.
Deshmukh had skipped at least four summons issued by the ED in the case. However, the Bombay High Court last week refused to quash these summons.Calling it a "witch-hunt campaign" launched at the instance of certain "vested inimical interests", Deshmukh said, "These unscrupulous persons are themselves knee-deep involved in several rackets of extortion, fraud and even murder. The principal person who held the high office of Commissioner of Police is now a wanted absconding criminal."
Earlier this year, former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh had alleged that Anil Deshmukh had asked sacked police officer Sachin Vaze, who had been arrested by the NIA in the Mukesh Ambani bomb scare case, to collect Rs 100 crore every month, including Rs 40-50 crore from bars and restaurants in Mumbai. It was also alleged that Deshmukh exercised undue influence over the transfer and posting of officials.
Last week, the Bombay High Court rejected Deshmukh’s prayer to restrain the ED and the CBI from taking any coercive action against him. The court said if Deshmukh apprehended his arrest, he had the right to approach the appropriate court to seek protection.
The court, however, directed the ED to permit Deshmukh’s lawyer to remain present at the central agency’s office during the former home minister’s questioning.