Money laundering case: ED issues lookout notice against former Maharashtra minister Anil Deshmukh

Former Maharashtra minister Anil Deshmukh. File pic

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued a lookout notice against former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh in a money laundering case worth Rs 100 crore.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader has skipped several summons issued by the agency.

The 'lookout' circular will effectively prevent Deshmukh from fleeing the country since he has skipped at least five ED summons to join the probe.

Officials also say that it's only a matter of time before Deshmukh faces arrest in the cases filed against him following the complaint lodged by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh.

Also Read: Bombay HC asks ED to file affidavit on plea of Anil Deshmukh's arrested aide in money laundering case

On September 2, The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had arrested Anil Deshmukh's lawyer Anand Daga for allegedly trying to subvert the probe against him.

The Supreme Court has declined any interim protection to Deshmukh from coercive action by the ED or CBI.

Last week, Deshmukh -- who quit from the Uddhav Thackeray cabinet in April -- moved the Bombay High Court, where the matter is pending hearing.

The central agencies are tightening the noose on Deshmukh, with the arrest of his lawyer and an aide last week in connection with the leak of a CBI's purported preliminary inquiry report which sought to give him a clean-chit, and both agencies have raided him in Mumbai and Nagpur.

(With inputs from agency)