The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told a special court on Tuesday while seeking former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh’s custody in a corruption case, that it would need to take him to Delhi for ‘scientific interrogation’. The court, while granting his custody to the agency till April 11, said the permission to take him out of Mumbai would be subject to the opinion of a specialist from the state-run J J Hospital.
The agency said that it might be required for Deshmukh to be subjected to scientific interrogation techniques during his confrontation with his co-accused. For this, he needed to be taken to its head office in Delhi, it stated. His personal secretary, Sanjeev Palande, personal assistant Kundan Shinde and dismissed policeman Sachin Vaze - through whom he had allegedly made illegal collections from businesses - had already been taken into custody on Monday for investigation.
Further, the agency said that Deshmukh needed to be confronted on the basis of voluminous case records that were available at Delhi and also for security and secrecy with regard to the records. The agency prosecutor Raj Mohan Chand told the court that all efforts were being made by the state government to see that Deshmukh was not taken into its custody.
Arguing for Deshmukh, his advocate Aniket Nikam asked the court, “What is so sweet about Delhi... They are saying there are no special techniques here but only in Delhi, it is surprising!” he said. Nikam pointed out that the investigation pertained to events in Maharashtra and said a 73-old-man could not be made to travel from one state to another when he had several ailments and had currently dislocated his shoulder.
Deshmukh, who had his left arm in a sling because of his recent shoulder dislocation, addressed the court personally in Hindi (for the understanding of the CBI officers) and told the court that he had been questioned four times by the agency already. The former minister said he had written from prison to the CBI's investigation officer, showing his readiness to be questioned anytime in prison, but that there was no response to his letter. He had a fall in the bathroom, he said, four days before Monday, when the CBI had reached the prison to take his custody. ‘I am in a lot of pain. Doctors from J J Hospital checked me twice and said I would need to undergo surgery once the pain subsides… I request regarding taking to Delhi, that everything has happened here, hence the investigation may happen here."
Special CBI Judge V C Barde in the order remanding the NCP leader in the CBI’s custody for five days till Monday, observed that police custody appeared necessary in view of the allegations made in the FIR and the material collected by the CBI shown in the case diary. The court directed that considering his condition, physiotherapy be continued while he was in police custody.
HC judges recuse themselves from hearing Deshmukh plea
Justices Revati Mohite Dere and P D Naik of Bombay High Court recused themselves from hearing the appeal filed by former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh challenging the applications filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) seeking his custody in an alleged corruption case.
When the matter came up for hearing before Justice Mohite Dere on Wednesday before session, she recused herself, prompting the petitioner to mention the matter before Justice Naik. However, he too recused himself.
Deshmukh’s advocate said that since his client had been arrested by the CBI, they would amend the petition and challenge his custody.
Deshmukh was arrested by the CBI on Wednesday morning pursuant to the same.
