Anil Deshmukh resigns as Maharashtra home minister after HC orders CBI probe

The Bombay high court directed the CBI to complete a preliminary investigation into former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh’s allegations of an “extortion racket” in the next 15 days

Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh resigned on Monday, hours after the Bombay high court ordered a federal probe into allegations of extortion against him, in what is the most high-profile casualty so far in the sensational Sachin Vaze-Antilia explosives case that has roiled Mumbai.

Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh. (ANI)

Later the same evening, officials said the state government was considering challenging the HC order in the Supreme Court because Maharashtra had already ordered a judicial probe into the same allegations on March 30.

The high court’s decision, allowing a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into allegations against Deshmukh levelled by Param Bir Singh, the former commissioner of Mumbai Police, opens a new chapter in a 39-day long drama that has seen several twists and turns.

It started with the discovery of an explosives-laden vehicle outside the residence of billionaire Mukesh Ambani, gathered momentum with the alleged murder of the man in possession of the car, and who had reported it stolen, Mansukh Hiran, and took a surprising turn with the arrest of a politically connected assistant inspector of police Sachin Vaze in the explosives case (he was subsequently named in the murder investigation too).

Maharashtra’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, in an attempt to manage the fallout, transferred Singh, with Deshmukh clearly articulating that the move was prompted by his mismanagement of the case. A miffed Singh wrote a letter to the chief minister, airing allegations that Deshmukh instructed Vaze to run an extortion racket and raise money ( ₹100 crore a month).

After Monday’s ruling, it became clear that Deshmukh could not continue in his role, and he resigned, citing “moral” grounds. “The high court asked the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry ...In the wake of the court’s decision I don’t feel morally right to continue on the position of the home minister. Hence, I have decided to step down from this position on my own,” read Deshmukh’s letter to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.

A CBI team from Delhi, comprising half a dozen officers, is expected to reach Mumbai on Tuesday to investigate the allegations of corruption against Deshmukh, said officials with knowledge of developments. The Delhi team will be assisted by Mumbai officers because the agency has only 15 days to complete the preliminary inquiry. The agency will record the statements of the petitioners, including Singh, said the officials cited above.

Anil Deshmukh’s resignation letter.

Deshmukh is a senior member of the Nationalist Congress Party, which, along with the Shiv Sena and the Congress, makes up the MVA. He was replaced as home minister by Maharashtra labour and excise minister Dilip Walse Patil. The departments under Patil’s charge – labour and excise – will be handled by rural development minister Hasan Mushrif and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, respectively, an announcement from the chief minister’s office said.

The MVA government will respond after studying the judgement, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said. “No investigating agency is an incarnation of God. The issue is political, too. Our tradition is that we honour decisions of the judiciary.”

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the home minister was left with no option but to resign after the court’s ruling. “It was inevitable. The decision should have been taken long back...I am surprised to see the silence maintained by chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on this entire episode,” said former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

After resigning, Deshmukh took a flight to Delhi where he met Congress leader and prominent lawyer Abhishek Singhvi. A senior NCP functionary said he was also likely to meet Kapil Sibal, another top legal counsel, and discuss the merits of approaching the Supreme Court against the HC decision.

On Monday, the Bombay high court directed CBI to complete a preliminary investigation into Singh’s allegations of an “extortion racket” in the next 15 days. The court left it to the discretion of the CBI director to decide the further course of action.

Hearing a bunch of public interest litigations (PILs), including that filed by Singh, the HC observed that there couldn’t be an independent probe into the allegations if it was handed to Mumbai Police, which reports to the home department.

A bench of chief justice Dipankar Datta and justice GS Kulkarni said this was an “extraordinary” and “unprecedented” case that warranted an independent inquiry.

“To instil public confidence and safeguard the fundamental rights of citizens, it is necessary that an inquiry and investigation is conducted by an independent agency and for such reasons, we consider it to be in the paramount public interest that an independent probe in the present circumstances would meet the ends of justice,” said the bench in its decision.

Singh, who was removed as police commissioner on March 20, filed his plea four days later. He sought a CBI probe against Deshmukh who, he claimed, had asked police officers, including Vaze, to extort ₹100 crore from bars and restaurants. Deshmukh denied any wrongdoing.

Soon after the court’s order, NCP chief Sharad Pawar and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar met and decided it would be embarrassing for the NCP and the MVA government if the home minister was questioned by the CBI, said NCP leaders in the know.

On February 25, an SUV was found abandoned outside Antilia, the residence of billionaire Ambani, with explosives, and a threat letter. It emerged that the car had been reported stolen on February by a car dealer from Thane, Hiran. Vaze was named in charge of the investigation — reports say he was the first officer on the spot — but transferred on March 12 after Fadnavis said he was connected with Hiran.

On March 5, Hiran was found dead in mysterious circumstances. That case is being investigated by the National Investigation Agency, which is also probing the explosives case. NIA officials suggested Vaze may have orchestrated the whole thing to regain his stature in the force.

Shortly after Deshmukh’s resignation, the BJP targeted Thackeray. “I find it interesting that Anil Deshmukh has taken moral responsibility. How about the responsibility of the CM...When will CM Uddhav Thackeray speak?” Union minister of law and justice Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

The Maharashtra Congress general secretary and spokesperson Sachin Sawant said the verdict sets an unfortunate precedent. “The NCP or MVA has never denied any investigation into the allegations. In fact, the state government has already instituted an inquiry by a retired high court judge, which was upheld by the Bombay high court,” said NCP spokesperson Mahesh Tapase.

The Shiv Sena said it believed in morality. “The Shiv Sena believes in ethical politics and hence we accepted the resignation of Deshmukh to facilitate the CBI probe,” said Sena legislator Manisha Kayande.