Money laundering case: NCP leader Anil Deshmukh released on bail from Mumbai's Arthur Road jail

The 73-year-old leader had been in jail since November last year, after he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an alleged Rs 1000 crore money laundering case.

The ED probe was in line with a CBI investigation into former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh’s allegations of corruption against the NCP leader.

Speaking to media persons outside the jail after his release, Deshmukh thanked the judiciary for allowing his release on bail and said there is no truth to the allegations made against him.

The NCP leader’s family members, leader of opposition in state Assembly Ajit Pawar, NCP MP Supriya Sule, former ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse-Patil and NCP state president Jayant Patil, among others, were present outside Arthur Road jail to receive Deshmukh, Indian Express reported.

As per the HC order, Deshmukh will have to stay within the Greater Mumbai area till the conclusion of the trial, said the report.

A single-judge bench of Justice Makarand S Karnik of the High Court had on December 12 directed that Deshmukh be released on bail upon furnishing a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh, along with sureties of the same amount, and asked him to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.

The court also asked Deshmukh to surrender his passport to the trial court if not done yet.

Deshmukh must also report to the CBI office every Tuesday for a period of one month from the date of release and thereafter, the court directed.

After that, he must report to the CBI office every alternate Tuesday for the next three months.

Further, the High Court had said that Deshmukh shall not directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him/her from disclosing the facts to court or any police officer.

Deshmukh shall not tamper with evidence, the HC had ordered.