ED discriminating between bureaucrats and ministers: Anil Deshmukh's PS Sanjeev Palande to Mumbai court

In an application for regular bail before a Mumbai Court in the money laundering case, Sanjeev Palande, personal secretary of ex-Home Minister of Maharashtra Anil Deshmukh, argued that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was discriminating between him and the ministers suspected to be involved in the case including Deshmukh. .Advocate Shekhar Jagtap representing Palande, submitted that Palande was taken into custody the same day his house was raided unlike Deshmukh who was given time to respond to the notice under Section 41A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). It was argued that Palande had been issued a notice under Section 41A and immediately taken into custody without being granted any time to respond to the same."When there is political rivalry (Deshmukh) so they should get 10 days time. While I (Palande) am an honest bureaucrat and I don't get any time. Person must be given reasonable notice before arrest," Jagtap said.This was so though Palande had not even been arraigned as an accused in the FIR registered by the CBI or by the ED, it was pointed out.."There is no evidence of a single penny coming to me," Jagtap argued adding that the only statements which were given against him were by dismissed cop Sachin Waze and another cop Sanjay Patil who is Assistant Commissioner Police (ACP) with the Social Service department. .Jagtap contended that there had been an ED raid in Palande's residence on the same day as Deshmukh's house. "While Deshmukh's statement was also recorded, I was picked up as if some incriminating material was found at my house and I was supposed to be confronted with it. Why this discrimination?" Jagtap submitted. .He also added that from the time the ECIR was registered, no summons had been issued to Palande till the raid was conducted at his residence. .ED had registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) and criminal conspiracy against Deshmukh and his associates after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed an FIR following a court-directed enquiry into allegations of corruption and misuse of his official position.On June 26, 2021, Palande was arrested and remanded to ED custody for 7 days, after which he was remanded to judicial custody.ED also filed its prosecution complaint (which is similar to a chargesheet) before the special court in Mumbai..ED is investigating into charges that dismissed Mumbai cop Sachin Waze had been forced to collect money from various bars and restaurants as protection money on instructions of Deshmukh and his associates like Palande.However Jagtap's contention was that such an act seemed improbable considering there was a strict lockdown in place and the economy was also affected. "Money worth crores from 1750 bars and restaurants is said to have been collected. But were these many establishments working? That needs to be verified. The economy was down," Jagtap argued. .Palande also alleged that during the period from May to June 2021, there seemed to be a tussle between the Central and State governments due to which a lot of central investigative agencies were appointed by the Centre against State. .Palande's co-accused and Deshmukh's personal assistant Kundan Shinde has also applied for bail. Advocate Ejaz Khan on his behalf argued that Shinde was incriminated in the case based on Waze's statement and "his statement can not be relied upon. His own bonafide are in question as he is an accused and behind bars in another case," argued Khan..While Khan concluded his submissions, Jagtap will continue his submissions on September 29, 2021.