Deshmukh graft allegations: CBI raids 12 places in state

MUMBAI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches in 12 places, including residences of deputy commissioner of police Raju Bhujbal and assistant commissioner of police Sanjay Patil, at Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Ahmednagar, Sangli and Nashik on Wednesday. CBI officers said searches were also conducted at other suspects’ residences and offices in connection with former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh’s allegation that the then home minister Anil Deshmukh wanted police to collect ₹100 crore from owners of Mumbai’s bars and restaurants every month.

On March 20, three days after Singh was transferred from the Mumbai Police chief’s post for allegedly mishandling the Antilia security threat case, he wrote to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray alleging that Deshmukh ran an extortion racket. Deshmukh resigned from the Cabinet on April 5 after the Bombay high court ordered CBI to conduct preliminary enquiry into the allegations and take further legal recourse, if the agency found substance in the allegations.

CBI, on April 21, registered an FIR against Deshmukh and others. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) also initiated a probe into the money laundering aspect and arrested Anil Deshmukh’s aides Kundan Shinde and Sanjeev Palande. It also summoned Deshmukh and his kin to join the probe.

In April, CBI recorded the statements of over 20 people including Deshmukh, Palande, Shinde, Bhujbal, Patil, and Jaishri Patil – who petitioned the HC for an independent probe into the allegations. The agency also recorded former police officer Sachin Vaze’s statement – when he was in the custody of National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the Antilia case.

To corroborate the allegations made by Singh, CBI also recorded the statements of several bar and restaurant owners in the city.