Over a year after it gave its no-objection to dismissed cop Sachin Waze turning an approver in the money-laundering case against accused including former home minister Anil Deshmukh, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday withdrew its consent. In submissions made before the special court, the ED said that there was enough prima facie evidence against all the accused. Waze, Deshmukh, two of his staffers and others were named in connection with a money-laundering case in 2021. In June 2022, Waze had made an application that he wanted to make a full and truthful disclosure about the facts known to him and sought grant of pardon. The ED then had given its consent to Waze's plea stating that his statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and he had voluntarily revealed facts relevant to the case on the alleged bribes collected by him from bar owners on behalf of Deshmukh. It said that the court may pass an appropriate order on Waze's plea. On Monday, the ED withdrew this consent. Following this, the court will now decide on Waze's plea. If it is allowed, Waze will become a prosecution witness. If disallowed, Waze will continue to remain an accused in the case along with others. Waze had made a similar plea before another special court in connection with a corruption case filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) seeking pardon. The CBI had given its consent, following which the court accepted him as an approver. Both the cases relate to alleged bribes collected by Waze on instructions of Deshmukh in 2020-2021. Waze is also an accused in other cases including the Antilia terror scare and Mansukh Hiran murder case. He is currently in judicial custody. Deshmukh and two of his staffers, who were arrested by the CBI and the ED, were granted bail.
