The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday conducted searches at 12 locations in Nagpur and Mumbai linked to the chartered accountants in connection with the corruption and money laundering case involving former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh.
"CBI teams are conducting searches at eight locations in Nagpur and one in Mumbai. This is in connection with the corruption case lodged against Anil Deshmukh. Some of the premises searched belong to some chartered accountants," a CBI official said.
In October last year, the CBI had arrested one Santosh Jagtap, a resident of Thane in the said case. A Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) was also issued against him by the court. In August, a CBI team had conducted searches at Jagtap’s premises and had also seized Rs 9 lakh in cash. The investigation had indicated that Jagtap played the role of a middleman in the transfer and postings of officials.
According to the FIR registered by the CBI on April 21 last year, a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) was initiated against Deshmukh on April 6, following the HC’s order.
“The PE prima facie has revealed that a cognisable offence is made out in the matter wherein Anil Deshmukh and unknown others have attempted to obtain the undue advantage of the improper and dishonest performance of their public duty. The enquiry had also revealed that officer Sachin Vaze had been reinstated into the police force after being out of the police service for more than 15 years," CBI stated in its FIR.
"The enquiry further revealed that Vaze was entrusted with the most sensational and important cases of Mumbai City Police and Deshmukh was in knowledge of the said fact. Further, the petition of former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh finds mention that Deshmukh and others exercised undue influence over the transfer and postings of officials and thereby exercising the undue influence over the performance of official duties by the officials,” the CBI further stated.
A case under section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and section 7 (Public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act) of The Prevention of Corruption Act was registered against Deshmukh and unknown others.
