MUMBAI: The CBI on Saturday registered a case against former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh on the alleged charges of corruption against him and launched searches at his home in Mumbai and other places in Maharashtra.
Sources in the CBI said that following the registration of the FIR, the agency officials have raided premises linked to Deshmukh in Mumbai and other places in Maharashtra. “Searches continue and details will emerge as the day progresses,” said a source.
Earlier this month, after an order by the Bombay High Court, the CBI had registered a preliminary enquiry (PE) against Deshmukh to probe the Rs 100 crore extortion allegation levelled by former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh.
The CBI had questioned Deshmukh as part of its preliminary enquiry, which lasted for about 11 hours during which he was confronted with more than 75 posers. He was then questioned by Abhishek Dular and Kiran S, both SP-rank officers of the CBI in Mumbai.
According to officials in the CBI, the questioning largely revolved around Deshmukh’s alleged messages with ACP Sanjay Patil. Following the letter written by Singh, the CBI took over the investigation and since has questioned several persons. Deshmukh was confronted with the statements made by the others.
Deshmukh was also asked about the specific allegation made by former Mumbai Police commissioner as well as Sachin Waze, who accused him of setting a target of Rs 100 crore. He was asked if he had asked Waze to collect money through extortions from bars and restaurants in Mumbai.
Following the questioning, Deshmukh had denied all the allegations and claimed that this was just an attempt to malign the state government.