Bombay High Court should decide Anil Deshmukh bail plea expeditiously: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court today granted the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Anil Deshmukh the liberty to mention his bail plea before Bombay High Court Justice NJ Jamadar for an early hearing tomorrow.

A bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Hima Kohli said it is very unfortunate to have pendency in this case and have directed the High Court judge dispose of the case expeditiously and start the hearing soon.

The Apex Court in its order said that keeping an application for bail pending for 8 months is not consistent with the basic principles of the right under Article 21 of the Constitution...

The Court further said that we therefore permit the petitioner to mention the plea before learned judge tomorrow.

The bench also instructed the Bombay High court that the matter should be disposed during the course of this week.

The Court also not pleased to find that even after the similar order was passed in May, it has not been implemented so far.

Anil Deshmukh along with his associates have been investigated for alleged corruption between 2019 and 2021.

As per the preliminary findings in a complaint by Dr. Jaishri Patil, the CBI had charged Deshmukh and unknown others.

The inquiry began soon after the after the Bombay High Court gave directions in response to a petition filed by the former Commissioner of Mumbai Police.

After the investigation, Deshmukh was named in the FIR along with personal secretary Sanjeev Palande, personal assistant Kundan Shinde. The name of the dismissed Mumbai Police officer Sachin Waze,whose names were later added.

During the 8 month pendency, many judges have recused themselves from hearing the former ministers bail case including Justices Revati Mohite Dere, PD Naik, Bharati Dangre and Prithviraj K Chavan of Bombay High Court.

Deshmukh was represented by Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Vikram Chadhari.