Bombay HC refuses to quash CBI FIR on corruption charges against Anil Deshmukh

The Bombay High Court on Thursday refused to quash the FIR lodged by the CBI against former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh on charges of corruption and misconduct.

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Bombay HC refuses to quash CBI FIR on corruption charges against Anil Deshmukh
Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

The Bombay High Court on Thursday rejected the plea of former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. His plea had sought relief from any coercive action against him as well as the quashing and setting aside of the FIR registered against him.

A bench of Justices SS Shinde and NJ Jamadar said Deshmukh's plea seeking quashing of the FIR "deserved to be dismissed."

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The HC also refused Deshmukh's request to stay its judgement to give him time to file an appeal against the same.

Anil Deshmukh's lawyer Amit Desai sought a stay on the judgement so that Deshmukh can approach Supreme Court.

ALSO READ | Anil Deshmukh asked Sachin Vaze to collect Rs 100 cr for him per month: Ex-Mumbai Police chief Param Bir Singh

The Court said the only relief that they can give is to upload the petition by evening so that the parties can file an appeal as early as possible in Supreme Court.

The High Court also rejected the petition of the Maharashtra government seeking removal of two paragraphs from the FIR registered by the CBI.

Anil Deshmukh and the Maharashtra government had moved the high court to challenge the CBI probe initiated against Deshmukh over allegations of corruption and extortion.

Advocate Rafiq Dada appearing for the Maharashtra government sought a stay on the judgement. However, the Court refused. Dada further requested that the interim order where the CBI was asked to make the statement about not seeking transfer orders and administrative papers from the Maharashtra govt, that should continue.

However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed and said that May 26 statement cannot continue after the petition has been disposed of.

The state government in its plea has sought the removal of two paragraphs from the FIR registered by the CBI. One paragraph pertained to the allegation that "former state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh was aware of the reinstatement of now dismissed assistant police inspector (API) Sachin Vaze into the police after 15 years and sensitive and sensational cases being given to Vaze for investigation".

The second paragraph against which the state government has moved the court stated that Anil Deshmukh and others exercised "undue influence" over the transfer and postings of police officers, as alleged by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh.