Graft case against Anil Deshmukh: CBI raids at 12 locations, seeks key information

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing a Rs.100 crore corruption case against former Maharashtra home minister, Anil Deshmukh on Tuesday carried out searches at 12 locations across the state, sources privy to the development told ET.

These sources added that searches were also carried out at the residence of Mumbai police DCP Raju Bhujbal and ACP Sanjay Patil along with alleged middle men across Mumbai, Nashik, Pune, Ahmednagar and Sangli.

"The raids were concluded late last night and certain incriminating documents have been recovered which are being studied," sources told ET.


Bhujbal and Patil weren’t immediately available for comment.

The two were mentioned in the complaint made by former Mumbai Police Commissioner, Param Bir Singh which has formed the basis of the FIR filed by the central agency. The federal agency in the past has recorded the statements of these officers.

Meanwhile, the CBI has also written to the Maharashtra government seeking details of transfers and postings of police officers including those from the Indian Police Service (IPS) during Deshmukh's tenure as the state home minister.

Singh in his letter had said, “ Shri Sanjay Patil, ACP, Social Service Branch, was called by the Hon’ble Home Minister at his official residence to hold discussions about the hookah parlours in Mumbai. The meeting was attended by other officers and Shri Palande, Personal Secretary to the Hon’ble Home Minister. Two days later, Shri Patil along with DCP Bhujbal were called at the official residence of the Hon’ble Home Minister for a meeting. While ACP Patil and DCP Bhujbal were made to wait outside the Hon’ble Home Minister’s cabin, Mr. Palande went inside the chamber of the Hon’ble Home Minister and after coming out took ACP Patil and DCP Bhujbal on the side. Mr. Palande informed ACP Patil that the Hon’ble Home Minister was targeting a collection of Rs. 40-50 crores which was possible through an approximate 1,750 bars, restaurants and establishments operating in Mumbai. I was informed by ACP Patil about the demand to make collections for the Hon’ble Home Minister”.

“Other than the allegations of taking bribes from bars, there are also corruption allegations in transfer/postings at the time when Deshmukh was at the helm of state home ministry. To probe the same, details on the transfer and posting that took place during his tenure have been sought,” said a senior official. “ However, given the politicisation of the case, we don’t expect the state government to share the information. We have evidence that indicates corruption in these transfers and postings, if the state government refuses to share information, we will move the court,” added the officer.