Former Minister Anil Deshmukh's 'Attack' Claim Debunked as Police Close Probe

In a significant development that brings closure to a lingering political controversy, the Mumbai Police have officially concluded their investigation into the alleged attack on former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, unequivocally declaring the case as false. This decision follows an exhaustive probe that found no substantive evidence to corroborate Deshmukh's claims of being assaulted while in custody.

The saga began on March 13, 2023, when Deshmukh, then in judicial custody, alleged he was attacked by "unidentified persons" during his transportation for a medical examination.

The politician, who was at the time embroiled in a money laundering case, filed a complaint leading to a First Information Report (FIR) being registered at the Marine Drive police station. The complaint invoked sections of the Indian Penal Code related to voluntarily causing hurt and common intention, suggesting a concerted effort against him.

However, the police investigation quickly hit roadblocks.

Detectives meticulously reviewed extensive CCTV footage from the purported scene of the attack, including the route taken for his medical examination and the vicinity of JJ Hospital. Despite these comprehensive efforts, investigators found absolutely no visual evidence to support Deshmukh's allegations.

The footage revealed no assailants, no physical altercation, and no untoward incident during his transport.

Furthermore, Deshmukh's own statements proved to be inconsistent and lacking in specific details. Police officials recorded his statement multiple times, urging him to identify his alleged attackers or provide any concrete information that could assist the probe.

Regrettably, he was unable to furnish any verifiable details, nor could he describe any of the "unidentified persons" he claimed were involved. His vague assertions, including a claim of seeing "suspicious people" near the hospital, also failed to stand up to scrutiny.

Faced with a complete absence of evidence, both forensic and testimonial, the Mumbai Police were left with no alternative but to close the case.

A "C Summary" report has now been submitted to the court, a legal classification used when a case is deemed neither true nor false, typically indicating insufficient evidence to proceed with prosecution. In this instance, the police explicitly stated their conclusion that "no such attack took place," thereby rendering the complaint false.

The closure of this investigation marks a definitive end to the speculative claims surrounding the alleged assault.

It underscores the police's commitment to thorough investigation, even in high-profile cases, and highlights the importance of concrete evidence in substantiating such serious allegations.