MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Tuesday fixed former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh‘s plea for bail on merits in the CBI case against him under the prevention of corruption act.
Deshmukh’s lawyers cited his medical reports to say he is unwell and deserves urgent hearing of the case on both aspects.
The HC said it would hear both sides on the whole thing. For the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the additional solicitor general said it may be heard on Tuesday then.
Deshmukh had approached the HC last month after special CBI court Judge rejected his plea for bail holding that the statements of dismissed cop Sachin Waze as an approver—state witness—were relevant at the stage of deciding bail.
Waze had alleged that he had collected money from 1750 orchestra bars in Mumbai and delivered it to co-accused Kundan Shinde (Deshmukh’s personal assistant) on instructions of Deshmukh.
Deshmukh in his appeal before the HC said there are other statements recorded by the CBI which contradict Waze’s allegation of being asked to collect money from bars at Deshmukh’s behest.
The CBI sought dismissal of Deshmukh’s plea before the HC and said, “At the stage of consideration of bail, court cannot conduct a mini trial or roving enquiry.’’
The trial court had observed that it was not roper to release Deshmukh on bail considering his “active involvement’’ and “attempt to obtain undue advantage for improper and dishonest performance of public duty.’’
Deshmukh, 73 was first arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on November 2, 2021 in an alleged money laundering case and later this April 6, the CBI took his custody.
The HC had on October 4 granted Deshmukh bail in the ED case saying it would be “unsafe’’ to rely on Waze’s statement as a co-accused (in the ED case) cannot be relied on.
Deshmukh’s lawyers cited his medical reports to say he is unwell and deserves urgent hearing of the case on both aspects.
The HC said it would hear both sides on the whole thing. For the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the additional solicitor general said it may be heard on Tuesday then.
Deshmukh had approached the HC last month after special CBI court Judge rejected his plea for bail holding that the statements of dismissed cop Sachin Waze as an approver—state witness—were relevant at the stage of deciding bail.
Waze had alleged that he had collected money from 1750 orchestra bars in Mumbai and delivered it to co-accused Kundan Shinde (Deshmukh’s personal assistant) on instructions of Deshmukh.
Deshmukh in his appeal before the HC said there are other statements recorded by the CBI which contradict Waze’s allegation of being asked to collect money from bars at Deshmukh’s behest.
The CBI sought dismissal of Deshmukh’s plea before the HC and said, “At the stage of consideration of bail, court cannot conduct a mini trial or roving enquiry.’’
The trial court had observed that it was not roper to release Deshmukh on bail considering his “active involvement’’ and “attempt to obtain undue advantage for improper and dishonest performance of public duty.’’
Deshmukh, 73 was first arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on November 2, 2021 in an alleged money laundering case and later this April 6, the CBI took his custody.
The HC had on October 4 granted Deshmukh bail in the ED case saying it would be “unsafe’’ to rely on Waze’s statement as a co-accused (in the ED case) cannot be relied on.
