Mumbai: A special PMLA court pointed out that the accused himself had caused delay in the proceedings bail plea of 68 year old Mahadev Deshmukha former president of a Satara-based medical college, arrested in a money laundering case linked MBBS Admission Fraud.
Deshmukh sought bail, claiming that he has been in custody for over two years and no charges have been filed yet. However, the judge said that the delay in starting the trial cannot be attributed to the prosecution and that the case was postponed for about 20 months at the initiative of the suspect.
“On the one hand, the accused protected this court from deciding the bail application by seeking adjournment, and on the other hand, the accused now claims that there is a delay in the commencement of the trial and his right to a speedy trial is being violated . The accused cannot blow hot and cold at the same time, since the delay is attributed to the accused, he cannot get any benefit from it,” said Special Judge AC Daga.
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 weak. Referring to reports from various medical specialties, the judge said these show that the nature of the disease from which the accused is suffering is not as serious as stated in his plea. “…he only needs to take the medication he has been given and which he can take with him wherever he goes,” the judge said.
The ED opposed his bail plea and filed the earlier bail petition which was rejected by the court on merits. The ED further said that the medical grounds and the grounds for the delay in the trial were also taken into account and taken into consideration at that time. In its chargesheet, the ED said Deshmukh, in connivance with other accused, duped around “350 gullible students” and collected “Rs 65.70 crore”.