Anil Deshmukh seeks home food, judge says balanced diet given in jail
Former state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh was sent to judicial custody on Monday by a special court after spending 14 days in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Deshmukh was arrested on November 2 in a money laundering case filed on allegations that he received bribe from bar owners.
The ED on Monday sought that Deshmukh be sent to jail following its custodial interrogation. It said that Deshmukh is an influential person who served as the home minister of Maharashtra and if judicial custody is not granted, he may tamper with the evidence and hamper its ongoing probe.
It also claimed that Deshmukh had not cooperated with the investigation nor provided required information regarding the laundering of proceeds of crime. “Therefore, judicial custody is required to unearth the trail of funds, for corroboration and confrontation with other persons involved and even with the accused himself in the case,” the ED said in its plea. The court sent him to judicial custody till November 29.
During the hearing, Deshmukh’s lawyers Aniket Nikam and Inderpal Singh sought that he be allowed home food, medicines and bed in jail. Nikam told the court that Deshmukh was 72-year-old and considering his age and ailments, the court could permit him to be allowed home food in jail.
It is a harmless request. If he had been a young man, we would not have made such an application. Considering his age, health issues, for his physical well-being, he could be permitted home food,” Nikam submitted. He added that during his custody with the ED since November 2, he was provided home food with the court’s permission.