Anil Deshmukh's Enforcement Directorate custody extended

MUMBAI: A Special PMLA Court here on Friday extended by 3 days the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody of former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh, nabbed 10 days ago in an alleged money-laundering case. Strongly contesting the ED plea, Deshmukh's lawyers Vikram Chaudhri and Aniket Nikam said that the former minister appeared before the ED voluntarily and even agreed to be in ED's extended custody though he had been granted judicial custody last week. Arguing before Special Judge H.S. Satbhai, they questioned why the chargesheet was filed without arresting dismissed cop Sachin Vaze, the prime accused, who played a key role but remains 'accused' only on paper.

Chaudhri and Nikam also asked why the former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh — currently untraceable — has not been summoned for probe to record his statement.

"The country is passing through a phase where chaos and anarchy prevail, and the judiciary is the only saviour... The idea is to tire out Deshmukh... The ED seeking further custody is proof that all is not fair and they are acting with malice," Chaudhri said.

Making a plea for extending Deshmukh's custody, ED Special Public Prosecutor Shriram Shirsat submitted it was needed since new facts have emerged in the case which need to be probed.

Further, he contended that Vaze, the accused in the same case, is currently in Mumbai Police custody till Saturday.

The ED would move a fresh plea seeking Vaze's custody so that he could be confronted with Deshmukh, as the latter has been giving evasive replies. (IANS)

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