DISMISSED police officer Sachin Waze during his deposition before an inquiry commission here on Tuesday denied making any payment to former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh or any of his staff member.
He also denied collecting money from bars and bar owners in Mumbai. Waze is currently deposing before the Justice K U Chandiwal Commission, which is probing corruption allegations levelled against Deshmukh by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh.
NCP leader Deshmukh resigned from the post of State Home Minister in April this year. Waze’s cross-examination by Deshmukh’s lawyer Girish Kulkarni continued on Tuesday.
When asked whether there was any occasion he had to make payment to Deshmukh, Waze said, “No”. He also denied making payment to any of the staff members of the then home minister.
To a question on whether he made any payment to Kundan Shinde, in his capacity as Deshmukh’s staff or otherwise, Waze said, ‘‘I don’t recollect.”
When asked if anybody from the then Home Minister’s office asked him to collect money from bars or bar owners, Waze said, “I don’t remember.”
Deshmukh used to give instructions in high-profile investigations :
He also denied collecting any money from bar owners or bar-associated people. Waze also responded in negative when asked whether there was any interference from the State Home Ministry or any political party in cases he was probing during his stint at the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU).
Later, the inquiry commission posted the matter for further hearing on December 21 and imposed a cost of Rs 15,000 on Deshmukh for seeking adjournment.
Earlier, in his statement before the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Waze had alleged that Deshmukh asked him to collect money from bar and hotel owners.
He had also claimed that Deshmukh used to give instructions in high-profile investigations. Waze had alleged that during a meeting held in October 2020 at Deshmukh’s residence ‘Dyneshwari’, the NCP leader gave him a list of 1,750 bars and restaurants and asked him to collect Rs 3 lakh each from these establishments for granting various favours.
Meanwhile, the Chandiwal Commission on Tuesday issued production warrants for Anil Deshmukh and Sachin Waze for December 16 and December 20, respectively.