ED arrests Maharashtra ex- minister Anil Deshmukh

Maharashtra's former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate after more than 12 hours of questioning at their office in Mumbai in connection with a money laundering case on Monday.  He will be produced before the court on Tuesday where the ED will seek his custodial remand. Deshmukh, who had stepped down earlier this year from his post amid a row over bribery allegations against him, was refused relief by the Bombay High Court on Friday as he appealed for the cancellation of the summons by the probe agency."A false narrative and an erroneous impression is being created by vested interests that I am evading or avoiding appearing before the Enforcement Directorate. Undoubtedly, such propaganda is absolutely baseless," Anil Deshmukh said. Deshmukh had skipped at least four summons issued by the ED in the case.

Deshmukh was accused of corruption and extortion by Mumbai's ex top cop Param Bir Singh.  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.  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.