Anil Deshmukh quits after Bombay HC orders probe

5Maharashtra’s Home Minister, Anil Deshmukh resigned from the government citing ‘moral grounds’ after the Bombay High Court ordered a preliminary CBI investigation into allegations of corruption. This followed allegations made by former Mumbai police chief Parambir Singh’s. The Court has asked the CBI to investigate the matter within 15 days.

On March 20 Singh had set of a political firestorm with a letter to the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray alleging that Deshmukh was indulging in corruption and had asked suspended Assistant Police Inspector, Sachin Waze to collect ₹100 crore every month. (Waze is under investigation in a case pertaining to explosive material found in a vehicle outside the residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani.)

Deshmukh in his resignation letter, which has also been tweeted said that he did not have the moral right to continue in office after the court order, and so he has decided to quit.

Deshmukh, who belongs to the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party, is senior member of the Shiv Sena-led coalition ruling Maharashtra.

A media statement issued by the Chief Minister’s office said that Thackeray has written to the Governor requesting him to accept the Home Minister’s resignation.

The letter has also mentioned that, Labour Minister, Dilip Walse Patil has been given the charge of Home Department. The additional charge of Labour Department has been handed over to Rural Development Minister, Hassan Mushrif.

Maharashtra BJP Chief, Chandrakant Patil said there will be many shocking revelations in the CBI probe against Deshmukh.

Union Law Minister

Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad demanded to know why Uddhav Thackeray is silent on the matter. “Deshmukh said there are 1,750 bar and restaurants and asked police officers to collect ₹100 crore. This was the target for just Mumbai, what is the target for the whole of Maharashtra? What is the target for every Minister?,” said the Law Minister.

“And what about Uddhav Thackeray silent? Is it not natural to to assume that this is only the tip of the iceberg ( baat niklegi to bahut door talak jayegi )? NIA is investigating the Sachin Waze scandal and every day, a new fact emerges. The NIA will reveal where Waze’s story will lead. CBI will conduct preliminary inquiry and if they believe there is a prima facie case, they will register an FIR. Mumbai High Court has said that an independent inquiry is not possible. It is the BJP’s expectation that all the ramifications of this issue ought to be investigated and those involved should be booked. Who was Deshmukh serving? Who was he collecting money for – himself, his party or someone else?” asked Prasad.

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