The CBI has conducted searches at 12 locations in connection with the alleged corruption case against former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and others.
“Searches were carried out on Tuesday at the places linked to some police officers, including ACP Sanjay Patil and DCP Raju Bhujbal, and middlemen,” said a CBI official.
Based on the CBI case, the Enforcement Directorate is pursuing the money laundering angle and had recently attached assets worth ₹4.20 crore linked to the former Maharashtra Home Minister and others. They were held in the name of his wife and a company named Premier Port Links Private Limited.
The agencies have alleged use of improper means for collection of funds from various bars, restaurants and other establishments in Mumbai “to achieve the target of ₹100 crore per month”.
According to the ED, while working as the Home Minister, Mr. Deshmukh received illegal gratification of about ₹4.70 crore from various orchestra bar owners, through Sachin Vaze, then Assistant Inspector of the Mumbai police.
Funds to the tune of ₹4.18 crore were allegedly laundered with the help of Delhi-based dummy companies and projected as untainted by showing the same as received in a Trust named Shri Sai Shikshan Sanstha.
The Deshmukh family had acquired 50% ownership in Premier Port Links Private Limited, including its assets with a book value of about ₹5.34 crore by merely paying an amount of ₹17.95 lakh after a substantial time gap, the ED had alleged.
