‘Anil Deshmukh used 27 shell companies to launder money’

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday told the court that former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh directly controlled 13 companies to launder money, while his close associate and family members were in control of 14 other firms. The agency, which had arrested Deshmukh in a multi-crore money laundering case late Monday night, secured his custody until Saturday.

The 14 companies have been utilised for the purpose of infusion of ill-gotten money of Deshmukh, the ED told the court on Tuesday, as it sought the former minister's custody. The agency said he was directly involved in laundering about Rs 4.7 crore collected from bar and orchestra owners. It also told the court that the involvement of "foreign angle can't be ruled out at this stage".

"Based on the investigation conducted so far, custodial interrogation is the need of the hour in the interest of the ongoing investigation. The allegation of collection of around Rs 100 crore has been made in this case. The entire money trail requires to be established in order to bring the guilty to the book," the ED told the court. The ED also said that during the investigation, it found that Deshmukh's flat in Worli is in the name of his wife Aarti Deshmukh. The flat was bought in total cash in 2004, but the deed was registered in 2002 when he was the home minister of the state, the agency added.

Anil Deshmukh back at the ED office in Ballard Estate, after officers secure his custody on Tuesday. Pic/Suresh Karkera

In a statement to the ED, one of Deshmukh's close associates said there is one more company, M/s Vidarbha Builder, in which the former minister's family members have shareholding. The company has been used to purchase land parcels measuring 33 acres for a consideration amount of R5.21 crore from various farmers, the statement added. "Deshmukh played a crucial role in money laundering. He is needed for custodial interrogation and if custody is not given, he may tamper with the evidence and influence the witnesses," the ED told the court.

Deshmukh's advocate Vikram Chaudhary told the court, "I can't comment much on any specific allegation in the remand application, as the matter is already sub judice. However, I can say that the ED's allegation that we didn't cooperate is not right, because we have cooperated throughout the investigation. Immediately after the first summons, we sent our representative and he reached the ED by himself after the HC order." The ED has cited several statements by Deshmukh's associates, his PA, CA and others to make their case of money laundering against him.

The 27 firms

According to the ED, it has found 13 companies controlled directly by Deshmukh - namely M/s Atlantic Vista Real Estates Private Limited, Concrete enterprises Private Limited, Blackstone Logistics Private Limited, Rabia Logistics Private Limited, Longitude Warehousing Private Limited, Qubix Developers Private Limited, Lemonstone Warehousing Private Limited, Zodiac Dealcom Private Limited, Qubix Logistics Private Limited, Concrete Real Estates Private Limited, Ayati Gems Private Limited, Katol Energy Private Limited, Haneil Soya-Tech Private Limited.

Another 14 companies were controlled by the former minister's family members and his associates - Vishvesh Logistics Private Limited, Qubix Leisure & Entertainment Private Limited, Sublime Warehousing Private Limited, Swordfish Ventures Private Limited, Flourish Properties Private Limited, Landscaper Realtors Private Limited Green Edifice Infraventures Private Limited, Contemporary Securities Private Limited, Wisal Infraproject Private Limited, Qubix Hospitality Private Limited,Meadows Realtors Pvt. Ltd, Greenland Buildspace Pt. Ltd, M/s Mrigtrishna Trading Ltd. & M/s Premier Port Links Pvt. Ltd.