The CBI has arrested former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh’s lawyer, Anand Daga, for allegedly trying to subvert the Bombay High Court directed preliminary enquiry against the ex-minister, officials said on Thursday.
The agency has brought Daga, who was arrested in Mumbai, to Delhi on a transit remand, they said.
Anand Daga, a lawyer from Anil Deshmukh’s legal team, was arrested late Wednesday night after questioning, sources said.
On Wednesday evening, Abhishek Tiwari, a sub-inspector rank officer of the CBI, was arrested after he allegedly accepted illegal gratification from people close to Anil Deshmukh. Sources said he was also allegedly in touch with lawyer Anand Daga.
Daga was detained on Wednesday from Anil Deshmukh’s Mumbai residence.
“CBI has registered a case against its sub-inspector, a Nagpur-based advocate and unknown others on certain allegations, including illegal gratification. During the investigation of said case, the CBI has today (Wednesday) arrested the sub-inspector. The said advocate is being questioned,” said CBI Spokesperson RC Joshi to India Today.
Searches were also conducted by the agency at the premises linked to Abhishek Tiwari in Prayagraj and Delhi.
A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed against Deshmukh on allegations of corruption.
The claimed PE findings which were leaked showed the Deputy SP probing the matter had purportedly opined that no cognisable offence was made out against Deshmukh.
It was later converted into an FIR based on a contrasting opinion of the Deputy SP. The opinion mentioned in the FIR said that cognisable offence is made out against Deshmukh.
“The Preliminary Enquiry prima facie revealed that a cognisable offence is made out in the matter, wherein the then Home minister of Maharashtra, Shri Anil Deshmukh and unknown others have attempted to obtain undue advantage for improper and dishonest performance of their public duty,” the CBI FIR alleged.
In the FIR, the CBI had booked Deshmukh and others unidentified under IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy and sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act for “attempt to obtain undue advantage for improper and dishonest performance of public duty.”
Allegations against Deshmukh had surfaced after the removal of Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh.
He was removed after the role of policemen Sachin Waze surfaced into the case of an explosive-laden SUV which was found parked outside the residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani. Waze was arrested by the NIA.
In his letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Singh had alleged that Deshmukh had asked Waze to extort over ₹100 crore a month from bars and restaurants of Mumbai, they said.
The FIR alleged that Deshmukh “and others” exercised undue influence over the transfer and posting of officials.
