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Deshmukh family raided 109 times, says Supriya Sule; calls it a world record
Anil Deshmukh, 72, was arrested by ED on November 2 on money laundering charges, and by the CBI on April 4 on corruption charges. CBI filed a charge sheet against him on June 2
NAGPUR: Senior Nationalist Congress Party leader on Monday reiterated the opposition charge that central agencies were being used by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to target political opponents, claiming the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had already conducted 109 raids targeting former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh’s family.
“Our two leaders (Deshmukh and Maharashtra minister Nawab Maik)who did not do anything are stuck in jail. This is very bad but I am sure that we will get justice from the court, sooner than later… When they come out and will get a clean chit, you play this video clip. Because I know the entire case in both instances… you pull out the data. Raids are conducted after someone speaks against the central government,” Sule told reporters.
Anil Deshmukh, 72, was arrested by ED on November 2 a 7,000-page charge sheet was filed against him on December 29. CBI placed him under arrest on April 4 on corruption charges and filed a charge sheet against him on June 2.
On February 23, state minister Nawab Malik, who had gone on an offensive against the Narcotics Control Bureau’s Sameer Wankhede, was arrested by ED on money laundering charges.
“You look at him (Deshmukh)… It is a world record. Should put it in Limca (Limca Book of Records that compiles world records held by Indians). The Deshmukh family has been raided 109 times. What were they (agencies) doing the 108 times (that they raided the family). They had to raid a 109th time because they hadn’t found anything… This is so shocking and disappointing,” she added.
Sule also questioned the court ruling to allow dismissed police officer Sachin Vaze to turn approver in the corruption case registered by CBI against Deshmukh. “The man who is accused of everything is getting a pardon for turning approver. The one who has accepted the crimes, how can he get a pardon. What justice is this,” Supriya Sule, who is also a Rajya Sabha member, said.
Sule said she will raise the matter in Parliament and ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “I am not angry with Modiji. I am surprised... What is happening in this country”.
Sachin Vaze is alleged to be among the police officers who were told to collect ₹100 crore every month from Mumbai’s bars and restaurants by Deshmukh, a charge first levelled by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh. Vaze is also prime accused in Antilia explosives scare, the related murder of Thane trader Mansukh Hiran, and the custodial death of Khwaja Yunus, an accused in the 2002 Ghatkopar bomb blast case.
On the Rajya Sabha elections in Maharashtra, she said the BJP could have avoided the elections. The leaders of Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government approached the BJP to find out a middle path. “But unfortunately, it was not materialised, despite an honest attempt by the ruling alliance,” she said.
Asked about senior NCP leader and Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde’s statement that the future chief minister of Maharashtra will be from the NCP, she said that every political party has the right to expand the party and think of their chief minister.
