Anil Deshmukh Arrested in Money Laundering Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested the former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh after questioning him for over 12 hours at its office, in connection with a money laundering and corruption case against him.

Deshmukh reached the ED office here around 12 pm and was kept at the ED office till over 12 am.

At around 1.30 am, official sources told media that Deshmukh, 71, was arrested under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said Deshmukh’s arrest is politically motivated and aimed at maligning the image of the state’s Maha Vikas Aghadi government leaders.

Hitting out at the Centre, Malik, a minister in the Maharashtra government, said scaring leaders by abusing power should be stopped.

“The entire action (of arresting Deshmukh) is politically motivated. It is aimed at scaring the leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance),” Malik told reporters.

Earlier in the day, a team of ED offcials including its additional director flew in from Delhi to record the statement of Deshmukh.

Deshmukh had earlier skipped at least five summons by the agency and also moved the Bombay High Court seeking to quash these summons.

Ahead of appearing before the ED, Deshmukh in a video message said that he has extended his cooperation in the probe. “I have received ED summons and the media has wrongly reported that I am not cooperating with the investigation.

After every summon, I informed the ED that my petition is pending before the courts and that I will produce myself before the ED after their outcomes.

My staff and my family have always cooperated with the ED during the searches. I have also recorded my statements with the CBI. Today I am appearing before the ED,” he said.

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