Maha ex-minister Anil Deshmukh walks out of jail to a hero’s welcome

Mumbai : Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh walked out of the Arthur Road Central Jail here on Wedesday on bail after spending nearly 14 months behind bars, to a hero’s welcome.

Deshmukh, 73, was released after the Bombay High Court on Tuesday refused a Central Bureau of Investigation plea to extend the stay on its order granting bail.

A single-judge vacation bench of Justice Santosh Chapalgaonkar declined to entertain the CBI plea against the backdrop of the regular court’s previous order that no plea for further extension of custody will be entertained, thus paving the way for his release.

As Deshmukh stepped out of the prison gates around 4.55 pm, sporting his trademark dark waist-jacket and white kurta-pyjama, he was greeted with loud cheers, clapping, garlands and showers of flower petals by the hundreds of Nationalist Congress Party activists and top leaders present to receive him

State NCP President Jayant Patil, Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar, MP Supriya Sule, senior leader Praful Patel, ex-ministers Dilip Walse-Patil, Chhagan Bhujbal, several MPs and MLAs, Deshmukh’s family members with tears of joy streaming down their cheeks, and well-wishers were waiting for over two hours as the release formalities were completed by the ARCJ authorities.

Many NCP activists, men and women were seen dancing, a band played drums to salute the end of his incarceration and others distributed sweets on the road outside the ARCJ.

Appearing overwhelmed at the tumultuous welcome, a cheerful but weary Deshmukh initially folded his hands in acknowledgement at the gathering, declining comments.

Later, at the prodding by NCP leaders and the media, he finally offered a few reactions on his incarceration, stepping onto an open vehicle flanked by several party leaders.

Deshmukh later went for darshan at the famed Siddhivinayak Temple in Prabhadevi in a vehicular procession waving NCP flags, and thereafter he is likely to call on NCP President Sharad Pawar.

Similar scenes were witnessed at Deshmukh’s Nagpur residence with hundreds of supporters and party workers dancing with joy, sprinkling ‘gulal’, and distributing sweets, as they watched the live telecast of his release in Mumbai.