Mumbai: The Maharshtra goverment led by Eknath Shinde has reportedly given sanction to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to prosecute the case against former Home Minister Anil Deskmukh in connection with Rs 100 crore extortion case.
The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting held Tuesday night. The previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government had not given the permission.
The central agency had filed a charge sheet against Deshmukh and others in of June.
According to law to probe the case against a government employee or any minister in a court of law, sanction of prosecution is required from the government in power in the state under Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The case against Deshmukh will reach the trial stage.
In April 2021, the ED launched a probe against Deshmukh after the CBI registered an FIR against him on the charges of bribery.
The ED alleged that Deshmukh, while serving as state home minister, had collected Rs 4.70 crore from various bars and restaurants based in Mumbai via then-police officer, Sachin Vaze.
The money was allegedly laundered and channelized to Deshmukh family’s education trust.
Later the ED had registered the offence after ex-Mumbai police commissioner, Param Bir Singh penned an explosive letter to then-CM Uddhav Thackeray saying that Deshmukh had ordered two police officials to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from the city’s bars and restaurants.
