The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told the Bombay High Court that it wants to submit progress the report of their investigation against former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in a sealed cover. Anil Deshmukh is under scanner for his alleged role in a corruption and extortion case.

Additional Solicitor General Aman Lekhi, appearing for the CBI, said the central agency wants to show how the process of transfers and postings of police officers were “interfered with and controlled by Deshmukh”.

“We want to show to the court how all the constraints and restraints of the law were abandoned altogether,” Additional Solicitor General Aman Lekhi said.

“These documents that the CBI wishes to submit are necessary to show the direction of the investigation, the issuance of summons,” Additional Solicitor General Aman Lekhi said.

Advocate Darius Khambata, appearing for the Maharashtra government, objected to the CBI’s demand to submit documents in a sealed cover. He said all documents should be submitted in the open court.

The Maharashtra government also sought “continuation of the investigation but under the supervision of this court”.

Additional Solicitor General Lekhi, however, accused the Maharashtra government of “doublespeak”. The CBI said, “You [Maharashtra government] say you want the investigation to go on and yet you fault the investigation. The state claims to be not concerned with Deshmukh, yet it alleges malafide [malaise] and continues to be concerned with the investigation.”

The Maharashtra government had earlier denied the CBI’s allegation that it was trying to obstruct their probe against Anil Deshmukh.

“I [Maharashtra government] am not concerned with him [Anil Deshmukh]. Please investigate him. Go ahead and do whatever you want with him,” said state government’s lawyer Darius Khambata.

The Maharashtra government’s plea before the high court demands the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the case that the CBI is currently probing against Anil Deshmukh and others.

The Maharashtra government justified its demand stating that Subodh Jaiswal, who is currently heading the investigating agency CBI, was the ex-officio member of the state police establishment board and was directly connected to the police transfer issue.

Anil Deshmukh and others are facing corruption charges. It is alleged that Anil Deshmukh had asked certain policemen to extort money from various businesses and that there were monetary gains made by Deshmukh and others on the issue of police transfer postings.Live TV