ED summons Anil Deshmukh's son in money laundering case

Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned former state home minister Anil Deshmukh’s son, Hrishikesh Deshmukh and asked him to be present on Friday for questioning in connection with a money laundering case in which his father is currently under arrest, according to the news agency ANI.

Hrishikesh, an accused in the case, had been dodging questioning by the ED for months even after several summons. In fact, Deshmukh, 71, also avoided several summons before being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate following a 12-hour interrogation on Monday, according to the Hindustan Times report.

Deshmukh had visited JJ Hospital for a routine check up on Thursday before taking to the ED office. Deshmukh appeared before the ED for the first time this week and was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the alleged Rs100-crore extortion and money laundering case.

A case against Deshmukh and others was filed after which the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) booked him in a corruption case in connection to the complaints made by former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh.  Singh had alleged Deshmukh got police officers to extort over Rs100 crore a month from bars and restaurants in Mumbai.

The ED remand mentioned that Deshmukh, by virtue of his position as state home minister, received around Rs 4.7 crore, according to Times of India report. Deshmukh’s CA, Sudhir Baheti, told the ED he had introduced Delhi-based hawala operators to Hrishikesh to legitimize the cash.