THE Bombay High Court on Thursday adjourned the petition of former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in connection with an FIR lodged against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on corruption charges. The High Court also refused to give any interim protection to Deshmukh from any coercive action by the CBI. It has asked CBI to file its affidavit within a period of four weeks in response to the petition filed by the former Maharashtra Home Minister. The next hearing in the matter will be after the summer vacation of the court.

 

The High Court has directed Deshmukh to move the vacation bench of the High Court on the basis of the urgency of his case if needed. Deshmukh, in his plea, sought the quashing of an FIR registered against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation over corruption allegations. He also pleaded for interim protection from any coercive action by the agency. Last month, the CBI had registered a case against him and others under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act (Public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act) and criminal conspiracy (IPC 120 B).