Court sends ‘bookie’ Anil Jaisinghani to 14-day judicial custody

Mumbai (PTI): A court here on Monday remanded suspected bookie Anil Jaisinghani and his cousin Nirmal to 14day judicial custody in a case pertaining to alleged blackmail and attempted bribery of Amruta Fadnavis, the wife of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Anil Jaisinghani, who was arrested last week from Gujarat, and Nirmal were produced before additional sessions judge D D Almale at the end of their police remand on Monday.

The investigation agency, represented by special public prosecutor Ajay Misar, sought extension of their custody for five days. However, Saying that fur- ther investigation can be carried out without the custody of the ac- cused, the court sent the accused to judicial custody. After being re- manded in judicial custody, the accused moved a bail application, which will be heard on Tuesday. Misar submitted that while there has been some progress, invstigators are yet to recover the documents used for purchasing the SIM card used in the mobile handset (used while committing the crime). They are also looking into the identity of the person who shot the videos, Misar said, adding that this required ad - ditional further custody of five days is required.

However, advocate Mrigendra Singh and Manan Sanghai, appearing for Anil and Nirmal, submitted the entire investigation had been completed and nothing further remains to be investigated.

Singh also told the court Anil Jaisinghani is suffering from blood pressure and asthma.

The court, after hearing both sides, said the grounds put forth by the investigation officer for extension of police custody are almost similar to the ones mentioned in the earlier remand paper.

Hence, both the accused are sent to judicial custody till April 10, the court said. Anil’s daughter Anishka Jaisinghani is also an accused in the case. The court granted her bail on Monday. They have been booked under IPC sections for conspiracy and extortion and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.