Designer Accused of Offering Bribe to Maharashtra Deputy CM’s Wife Sent to Police Custody till March 21

GG News Bureau

Mumbai, 17th March. A Mumbai court on Friday remanded designer Anishka Jaisinghani in police custody till March 21 in connection with a case filed against her for allegedly offering a bribe to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ wife Amruta in exchange for intervening in a criminal case and also threatening her.

Anishka was apprehended on Thursday, while her father, who is also an accused in the case, remained at large. On Amruta Fadnavis’s complaint, the Malabar Hill police station filed a First Information Report (FIR) on February 20.

The accused appeared in front of Sessions Judge DD Almale.

The police, represented by Chief Public Prosecutor Jaysing Desai, sought her custody for seven days, saying this is not a simple matter. Unless the person is remanded in sufficient custody, it will be difficult to investigate the case, he said.

The court then ordered Anishka to be held in police custody until March 21.

According to the FIR, Anishka has been in contact with Amruta Fadnavis for the past 16 months and has visited her home.

Amruta Fadnavis stated to police that she first met Anishka in November 2021.

Anishka claimed that she was a designer of clothes, jewellery, and footwear, and requested the BJP leader’s wife to wear them at public events saying it would help her promote the products, a police official said.

After gaining Amruta Fadnavis’s trust, Anishka offered to provide her with information on some bookies through which, she claimed, they could make money. She then directly offered Amruta Fadnavis ₹ 1 crore to get her father off the hook in a police case, as per the FIR.

Amruta Fadnavis also told the police that she was upset by Anishka’s behaviour and blocked her number, the official said.

The woman then allegedly sent video clips, voice notes, and so many messages from an unknown number to Amruta Fadnavis. According to the FIR, she and her father indirectly threatened and conspired against Amruta Fadnavis.

The police registered the FIR against Anishka and her father under Indian Penal Code sections 120-B (conspiracy) and the Prevention of Corruption Act sections pertaining to using corrupt and illegal means to induce a public servant to take a bribe.