The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has consented, albeit with conditions, to the plea filed by dismissed cop Sachin Vaze to turn approver against other accused including former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in an alleged corruption case.
Vaze had filed an application on Tuesday through advocate Rounak Naik before the special CBI court stating that he has cooperated with the investigating agency before and after his arrest, following which his statement was recorded under section 164 of the CrPC. It was also submitted that his statement had aided CBI in getting to the true facts of the case.
He has sought pardon under section 306 of the CrPC to be declared an approver and depose as a witness in the case.
During the remand hearing of Waze, Deshmukh and others last month, CBI had said that Waze, in his confession statement, had corroborated the version of witnesses regarding the collection of money.
Once an accused is allowed to become an approver, he deposes as a prosecution witness against other accused. The court then decides on pardoning the accused, whereby s/he is not sentenced to imprisonment at the end of the trial.
In its reply, the CBI has consented to Vaze turning approver with the condition that he will give “true disclosure” of the events.
The Special Court has kept Vaze’s application for hearing on May 30.
On April 21 last year, CBI registered the FIR against Deshmukh and others for corruption in transfers and postings of police officers in Maharashtra.
At present, Vaze is in custody in three cases. The first case is regarding the discovery of explosives near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence in Mumbai on February 25, 2021, and the subsequent murder of a businessman being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Nine others are also accused in the case along with him.
The second case against him is by the CBI in which he has sought pardon.
The third case is a money laundering case which is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate against Deshmukh and others. While Waze also sought pardon in the ED case, his application is kept in abeyance.
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