Mumbai: Pointing out that the accused himself caused a delay in the proceedings, a special PMLA court rejected the bail plea of 68-year-old Mahadev Deshmukh, a former president of a Satara-based medical college, arrested in a money laundering case linked to MBBS admission fraud.
Deshmukh sought bail claiming that he was in custody for over two years and charges haven’t been framed yet. The judge, though, said the delay in commencing the trial cannot be attributed to the prosecution and that for about 20 months, the matter was adjourned at the instance of the accused.
“On the one hand, the accused protected this court from deciding the bail application by seeking adjournment and on the other hand, now the accused is claiming that there is a delay in the commencement of the trial and his right to a speedy trial is being affected. The accused cannot blow hot and cold at the same time. As the delay is attributed to the accused, therefore, he cannot take any advantage of it,” Special Judge A C Daga said.
Deshmukh was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on May 6, 2022. The judge also refuted his claims for release on the grounds that he was sick and infirm. Referring to reports of various medical specialties, the judge said they show the nature of the disease which the accused is suffering from is not as severe as mentioned in his plea. “…he is only required to take the medications which were provided, which he can take anywhere,” the judge said.
Opposing his bail plea, the ED submitted the earlier bail application was rejected by the court on merits. The ED further said the medical ground as well as the grounds of delay in trial were taken and considered then too. In its chargesheet, the ED said that Deshmukh, in collusion with other accused, cheated around “350 gullible students” and collected “Rs 65.70 crore”.
