Bombay High Court dismisses Anil Jaisinghani's plea alleging 'iilegal arrest'

The Bombay High Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed by suspected bookie Anil Jaisinghani challenging his “illegal” arrest in a case of alleged attempt to blackmail and bribe Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's wife Amruta Fadnavis.

A division bench headed by Justice A S Gadkari said the plea was dismissed as it was without any merits.

The Malabar Hill police station in south Mumbai had on February 20 registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Anil Jaisinghani and his daughter Aniksha Jaisinghani for allegedly threatening to make public certain audio and video clips that purportedly show Amruta Fadnavis accepting favours from Aniksha.

They were booked for offences under Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) and Section 385 (extortion) of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 8 (induce public servant using corrupt means) and 12 (abetment) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

In his petition in the HC, Anil Jaisinghani claimed he was illegally arrested in the case on March 19 but was not produced before the court within 24 hours as mandated in law. Singh alleged that everything in the case was being monitored by the complainant's husband who is the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra.