Overview
- Special Judge Mahesh K. Jadhav found a prima facie case under the PMLA and declined to discharge the dismissed Mumbai police officer.
- The order records that about ₹4.70 crore was collected from bar and orchestra owners between December 2020 and February 2021 and routed to associates of Anil Deshmukh, including via Kundan Shinde.
- The court ruled that alleged illegal demand, extortion and handling of unlawful funds have no nexus with police functions and do not attract sanction protection for public servants.
- Noting Waze’s own admissions, the court said he served with the Crime Intelligence Unit, had no jurisdiction over bars, convened meetings of bar owners and collected money.
- Disputes over whether Waze benefited or acted as a conduit will be decided at trial, and the judge added that mere possession of proceeds can trigger PMLA provisions.