ED Files first prosecution complaint against Anil Deshmukh

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Monday submitted its first prosecution complaint (equivalent to a chargesheet) in a money laundering case filed against former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh, his son, a bunch of companies and his two arrested aides.

The chargesheet that runs into a few hundred pages was submitted along with documentary evidence gathered by the federal agency which has been trying to locate the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in the said matter. Deshmukh in the past has skipped five summons sent by the agency to join the probe.

The present PC has been filed against arrested Deshmukh aides, private secretary (additional collector rank office) Sanjeev Palande and personal assistant Kundan Shinde. The two were arrested in June. The federal agency has submitted the chargesheet today to prevent the two seeking bail for the want of chargesheet not being submitted within the stipulated period of 60-days post their arrest, sources said.


The ED has initiated money laundering investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation against Deshmukh and others for allegedly attempting to obtain undue advantage for improper and dishonest performance of their public duty for collection of funds to achieve the target of Rs 100 crore per month from various bars, restaurants and other establishments.

Last month, the ED said it attached assets worth Rs 4.20 crore – a residential flat valued at Rs. 1.54 crore, located at Worli in Mumbai and 25 land parcels of book value Rs 2.67 crore, located at Dhutum Villages in Uran, Raigarh district of Maharashtra.

According to the agency, these assets are held in the name of Deshmukh’s wife Aarti and company Premier Port Links Private Limited. His son, Salil, was a director in the firm between January 2006 and August 2012.