Maharashtra government not cooperating in probe against Anil Deshmukh: CBI to HC

Manjil Das, INN/Chennai
Twitter-@SGiggle29 @Infodeaofficial

The Mumbai High Court on Wednesday heard that despite a court ruling allowing the CBI to investigate corruption charges in police transfers and postings, Maharashtra’s government was refusing to cooperate with the agency in its investigation of former state home minister Anil Deshmukh. According to the CBI’s Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, the agency had written a letter to the government’s State Intelligence Department, asking for details pertaining to a written communication by senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Rashmi Shukla on the issue of corruption in police transfers and postings.

Earlier this month, the Maharashtra government filed a plea in which it sought to have sections of a CBI FIR against Deshmukh struck down. The high court ruled on July 22 that the CBI could investigate accusations of corruption in the transfer and posting of police officers.

Singh said the CBI sought information and copies of correspondence sent by Rashmi Shukla to the government about transfers and postings after the HC’s ruling.

According to Nitin Jadhav, the CBI’s assistant commissioner of police, the records are part of a separate investigation. Unfortunately, the state administration is refusing to cooperate with our efforts, “he explained.

This matter could be raised in court by the CBI.

Deshmukh was charged with corruption and abuse of official position by the CBI on April 21 of this year.

Following an order from the High Court on April 5, the agency began a preliminary inquiry into the NCP leader’s case.

The HC had ordered the CBI to launch an investigation into charges of corruption and misconduct levelled against Deshmukh, who had resigned from the government following that order.

As a result, the NCP leader has denied any misconduct.