Tanisha Rana
Published on: October 21, 2022 at 21:45 IST
Anil Deshmukh, the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and former State Home Minister, had his request for bail in the corruption case against him dismissed by a Mumbai court on Friday.
According to Special Judge SH Gwalani, the case contains a significant financial stake, and the court must take into account the potential effects of the offences on the country’s economy.
“In the present case it is found clear that huge amount (of money) is involved in which economy of nation in involved and economy of country needs to be considered,” the Court said.
The Court held that a thorough analysis of the evidence on the case’s merits was not necessary at the bail stage.
The accused is receiving proper medical care in accordance with his needs, the court further noted.
“I am of the opinion that the accused need not be released on bail. Hence, present bail application is rejected,” the judge ordered.
For alleged corruption that allegedly occurred between 2019 and 2021, Deshmukh and his accomplices are under investigation. The CBI arrested Deshmukh and several others after conducting a preliminary investigation into a complaint filed by advocate Dr. Jaishri Patil.
The investigation was started as a result of a direction that the Bombay High Court issued on April 5, 2021 in response to a plea submitted by Param Bir Singh, former commissioner of the Mumbai Police.
Based on the CBI’s FIR, the ED filed a money laundering case against Deshmukh and alleged violations of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), leading to his arrest in November 2021.
He was placed under ED custody, and the High Court prolonged that detention until November 15. He was then returned to judicial custody, where he is still being held today.
After having his bail request denied by a special PMLA Court in March 2022, Deshmukh moved the Bombay High Court for regular bail.
Deshmukh was granted bail by the High Court on October 4 in the money laundering case that the Enforcement Directorate is investigating into.
On October 11, the Supreme Court upheld this.
But because he had not yet received bail in the CBI case, Deshmukh remained to be held in judicial custody.
Deshmukh applied to the CBI Court for regular bail as soon as the High Court granted him bail.
The special judge spent a lot of time hearing the case, and CBI vehemently opposed the bail plea.
On October 20, the special court deferred the plea for orders and stated he will attempt to render the decision today.
Deshmukh will continue to be imprisoned as a result of this decision in the CBI case.
Deshmukh was represented by senior advocate Vikram Chaudhari, along with advocates Aniket Nikam and Inderpal Singh.
CBI was represented by Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh and advocates Ashish Chavan and Aditya Thakker.