Mumbai: A special court on Tuesday rejected an adjournment plea filed by former state home minister Anil Deshmukh in the ongoing CBI corruption case, citing intentional attempts to prolong the proceedings. The matter has been scheduled for a hearing before charge on Sept 7.The court noted that Deshmukh had again sought time on the grounds that the counsel meant to argue was engaged before Supreme Court. Rejecting the plea, the court observed that higher courts had directed that charges be framed without delay. “As per the direction… charge is required to be framed immediately but due to obstacles placed by the accused and due to non-cooperation from the accused the matter was adjourned day to day,” the court recorded.The case relates to corruption allegations against former minister Deshmukh, his personal assistant Kundan Shinde and others.The CBI registered the FIR on April 21, 2021, after allegations made by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh. The allegation is that Deshmukh instructed certain Mumbai police officers, including dismissed police officer Sachin Waze, to collect ₹100 crore every month from restaurants and bars in Mumbai. Waze allegedly collected Rs 4.7 crore from owners of orchestra bars between Dec 2020 and Feb 2021 and handed over the extorted money in two instalments to Shinde. In June 2022, Waze turned approver and was granted pardon in the case.
