Days after telling the Bombay High Court that the CBI, probing corruption charges against former state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, was asking for ‘frivolous’ documents, the Maharashtra government has softened its stance. It informed the Bombay High Court on Tuesday that it will “amicably resolve” the issue with the CBI regarding the sharing of documents.
Earlier, the Maharashtra government had refused to share certain documents with the CBI claiming that they were not relevant to the probe. The HC was hearing an application by the CBI which said that the state government was not cooperating with investigation against Deshmukh by refusing to provide documents. The CBI has prayed that the state be directed to provide these documents as directed by the HC.
A division bench of Justices SS Shinde and N J Jamadar had asked the government to reconsider its stand and to inform whether it was willing to share the documents. Senior counsel Rafique Dada, appearing for the state government, told the HC that he had a meeting with senior government officials. Dada said: “We will be able to reconcile the matter. We will put an end to this, hopefully.” He also said that a meeting will be held with the Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, who appears for CBI.
Following the statement from Dada, the HC has kept the matter for hearing on August 26. On July 22, the HC had held that the CBI has the jurisdiction to inquire into the allegations of corruption in transfer and postings of police personnel. The HC had also dismissed a petition filed by the Maharashtra government seeking deletion of certain portions of the CBI’s FIR against Deshmukh.
