A Mumbai court today sent Aniksha Jaisinghani, arrested for allegedly offering a bribe to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s wife Amruta and also threatening her, to 14-day judicial custody, turning down the cops’ plea to extend her police remand.
Previously, Aniksha was arrested by the city police on March 16 based on a case filed at Malabar Hill police station on February 20 on the complaint of Amruta Fadnavis. She is also accused of demanding extortion of ₹10 crores from the latter.
Therefore, the police produced Aniksha before sessions court judge DD Almale at the end of her previous remand.
The police, represented by special public prosecutor Ajay Misar, sought her custody for 3 more days to confront her with a witness. Aniksha’s lawyer Manan Sanghai submitted that no new ground was made out for extending the police remand. The court heard both sides, rejected the investigators’ plea, and remanded the accused in judicial custody.
Police also arrested her father and suspected bookie Anil Jaisinghani and their relative Nirmal Jaisinghani in connection with the case. The duo is in police custody till March 27. They have been booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections for conspiracy & extortion and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
As per the FIR, Aniksha was in touch with Amruta Fadnavis for the past 16 months and also visited her residence.
In her statement to the police, Ms. Fadnavis said she first met Aniksha in November 2021. Aniksha then claimed that she was a designer of clothes, jewelry, and footwear and requested the BJP leader’s wife to wear them at public events saying it would help her promote the products.
After gaining Amruta’s trust, Aniksha offered to provide her with information on some bookies through which, she claimed, they could make money.
As per the FIR she then directly offered Amruta Rs 1 crore to get her father off the hook in a police case.
The police said that Ms. Fadnavis told the police that she was upset by Aniksha’s behavior and blocked her number.
The official citing stated that the woman allegedly sent Amruta video clips, voice notes, and many messages from an unknown number. She and her father indirectly threatened and conspired against Ms. Fadnavis.
