Anil Deskhmukh had stepped down as Maharashtra Home Minister earlier this year.
Highlights
- Anil Deshmukh was refused relief by the Bombay High Court on Friday
- He was accused of corruption by Mumbai's ex top cop Param Bir Singh
- 4 summons had been issued to Deshmukh by central probe agency
Maharashtra's former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh today arrived at the Enforcement Directorate office in Mumbai for questioning in a money laundering case against him after it was claimed he was untraceable.
Mr Deshmukh, who had stepped down earlier this year from his post amid row over the bribery allegations against him, was refused relief by the Bombay High Court on Friday as he appealed for the cancellation of the summons.
In a video statement today, he said: "All allegations against me are false."
"When I got summons from the Enforcement Directorate, I was accused of not cooperating with the probe agency. I saw such reports on news channels... but I want to make it clear that whenever I was asked to appear, I told the probe agency that the matter is in the high court. I even told them that I had petitioned the Supreme Court and the hearing is about to begin."
"I clearly said that once the decision is out, I will be at the ED office. When my office and my homes were raised, my family and staff cooperated with them. I also got two summons from CBI... whenever I got summons I went to CBI office and got my statement recorded. Even today, my case is pending in the Supreme Court. But today I have presented myself in the ED office," the 71-year-old leader is heard saying in a video in Marathi.
Mr Deshmukh was accused of corruption and extortion to the tune of Rs 100 crore by Mumbai's ex top cop Param Bir Singh.
In a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Param Bir Singh had accused Mr Deshmukh of interference and using the police to extort up to Rs 100 crore every month. He had written the letter days after being removed from his post over tardy progress in the Mukesh Ambani bomb scare matter under his watch.
Mr Deshmukh had said some "unforgivable" lapses had been revealed in the Mukesh Ambani security scare probe under the police chief.
Even as the NCP leader rubbished the allegations and threatened a defamation case over the bribery claims, the allegations triggered a huge political storm in the state amid calls for his resignation by the opposition leaders.
Now, the former top cop is also missing and a lookout notice has already been issued against him. He also faces allegations of extortion and several cases have been filed against him.
Today, Mr Deshmukh slammed the former top cop: "Where is Param Bir Singh, who made allegations against me? Today the officers of Param Bir Singh's own department and several businessmen have filed their complaints against him."
On Sunday, the CBI made the first arrest in the bribery case linked to the former minister.