[BREAKING] Anil Deshmukh moves Bombay High Court for bail in money laundering case

Former Maharashtra Home Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Anil Deshmukh has approached the Bombay High Court seeking regular bail in the money laundering case against him..The Special PMLA Court had rejected his default bail application after which Deshmukh sought regular bail which was also rejected leading to the present plea before the High Court..Deshmukh has stated in his plea that he is a victim of gross persecution and harassment being meted out to him at the hands of certain unscrupulous vested interests.The plea filed through advocate Aniket Nikam stated that ED was already in possession of some material. However, they have been arguing before every Court that the material is not enough to array Deshmukh as an accused. But at the same time, the agency has been contending that the material sufficient for his arrest which was a dichotomous stand, the bail petition said.During the course of investigation which led to the complaint and supplementary complaint of ED, around 100 witnesses had been interrogated and none of the witnesses claimed that they were influenced by Deshmukh, the plea stated. .The following grounds were taken in the bail plea:That Deshmukh was arrested on November 1 and has been in judicial custody since November 15, 2021;Trial is unlikely to commence as the investigation still continues as no charge sheet has been filed in the main case being investigated by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI);There is no chain for alleged money laundering has been established by the prosecution. "Just vague allegation without any material will not be sufficient to keep an innocent man behind bars."The material placed on record contains only statements of co-accused persons and there is no documentary evidence which is being relief upon by ED;The prosecution is trying to mislead the Courts by alleging that the amount of ₹10.42 crores was laundered. "Prosecution may not travel beyond alleged predicate offence and project alleged money laundering for a non-existent offence."Deshmukh voluntarily appeared before the agency which showed that he was always ready and willing to join the investigation. .Deshmukh is the prime accused in the probe initiated by ED after CBI filed FIR following a Court-directed enquiry into allegations of corruption and misuse of his official position.The former Maharashtra Home Minister appeared before the ED officials and after a 12-hour interrogation, he was arrested and remanded to ED custody till November 6, 2021.A Sessions Court then turned down the ED's plea for extension of custody, and he was remanded to judicial custody of 14 days. This order was set aside by the Bombay High Court in a special Sunday sitting after ED challenged the same.The High Court then remanded Deshmukh to ED custody till November 12, which was extended till November 15. After that, the NCP leader was sent to judicial custody where he remains till date..Deshmukh had challenged the summons before the Bombay High Court, which dismissed his petition while directing him to take appropriate steps to approach the courts for anticipatory bail.