Anil Deshmukh meets Uddhav Thackeray amid oppositions' demand for his resignation

The meeting, which lasted for nearly an hour, took place at Thackeray's official residence.

Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad launched a scathing attack on Deshmukh and accused him of extorting money for transferring cops to positions of power.

"The Home Minister of Maharashtra is extorting money for transfers and postings. Was the minister taking money for himself, his party, or his government is yet to be known," Prasad said addressing the media.

Earlier in the day, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accused the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in the state of "protecting" Deshmukh.

Fadnavis suggested the "alibi" put forth by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar at a press conference was full of discrepancies.

Pawar on Monday ruled out the possibility of removing Anil Deshmukh as Maharashtra Home Minister in the wake of allegations of corruption.

Addressing the media over former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh's corruption allegations against the home minister, Pawar had said, "Anil Deshmukh was in hospital during that period. So in such a situation question does not arise about the resignation."

"This has been brought to my notice that Maharashtra HM Shri @AnilDeshmukhNCP  who was detected #covid positive in February got discharged from hospital on 15th February and advised to be home quarantine between 15th to 27th February. During this period, he was house quarantined," he had tweeted too.

Criticising that alibi, Fadnavis was quoted as saying by India Today that: "Sharad Pawar addressed a press conference and said claims made by Param Bir Singh are incorrect as Anil Deshmukh was hospitalised and then quarantined. On February 15, Deshmukh came to Mumbai by a private plane and it was said he was home-quarantined."

"I have two schedules. On Feb 17, Anil Deshmukh was at Sahyadri Guest House at 3 pm. On Feb 24, the manifest shows his movement from Residence to Mantralay," Fadnavis said and added, "Between February 15 and 27, the Home Minister was home-quarantined and not in isolation. He met several people and officials. The information can be easily accessed."

In a letter to Uddhav Thackeray, Param Bir Singh has accused Deshmukh of running an extortion racket with the help of other cops including Sachin Waze, the officer arrested in the Mukesh Ambani bomb scare case.

They were allegedly given a target of Rs. 100 crore per month.

Singh who was transferred in the aftermath of the investigation in connection with Mukesh Ambani security scare case, also moved the Supreme Court on Monday demanding a CBI probe against Deshmukh.

Deshmukh had denied all allegations and later put out a video statement defending himself, and insisting that fake news was being propagated against him.

He said he took a private plane to Mumbai after his discharge from the hospital, where he was treated for COVID-19, on February 15.