New Delhi: A special CBI court in Mumbai on Wednesday allowed former police officer Sachin Waze’s plea to turn approver and seek pardon in a corruption case in which former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh is also an accused.In an application filed before the special CBI court, Waze claimed he had cooperated with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) before and after his arrest, following which his confessional statement was recorded before a magistrate under provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).In its reply, the CBI had given its nod to Waze’s plea, subject to certain conditions. “Your application is awarded to you, but subject to certain conditions,” special judge D.P. Shingade said on Wednesday.Following the court order, the dismissed cop can now depose as a prosecution witness in the corruption case.The CBI’s case stems from allegations made by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh in March last year, accusing then Maharashtra home minister Deshmukh of asking police officers – including Waze – to collect Rs 100 crore per month from restaurants and bars in Mumbai.The CBI had lodged a first information report (FIR) against Deshmukh, Waze and others following an order of the Bombay high court last April. The Nationalist Congress Party leader resigned from the state cabinet after the HC’s order.Waze, who has been dismissed from the Mumbai police, is facing three separate cases. He was arrested in March last year by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged role in parking an explosives-laden SUV near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s south Mumbai residence. He is also being investigated by the NIA in connection with the murder of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran.The second case is the corruption case that the CBI is probing, in which he has now been declared an approver.Waze is also named accused in a money laundering case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Deshmukh is an accused in the ED’s case also.Waze has also written a letter to the ED, saying he wants to turn an approver in the money laundering case. That application has been kept in abeyance, according to LiveLaw.Waze will continue to remain in judicial custody despite the conditional pardon granted to him.The special CBI court on Wednesday laid out the conditions for Waze, saying he shall make full and true disclosure on the whole circumstances related to the said offence.He should disclose all facts already admitted before the magistrate during his confessional statement, the court said, adding that Waze should truthfully and correctly answer questions put by the special public prosecutor.Further, the court told Waze that there would be a certain certificate that he will have to sign.Earlier, in its response to Waze’s plea, the CBI had said that during the investigation, the accused voluntarily revealed various incriminating facts relevant to the case.In his confessional statement also, Waze has disclosed the alleged criminal involvement of Deshmukh and his staff members Sanjeev Palande and Kundan Shinde regarding the collection of bribes and illegal gratification from orchestra bars and other establishments, the CBI said.The Central agency has said that the confessional statement made by Waze has been corroborated on material aspects by oral and documentary evidence collected during the investigation.The statements are “very relevant” on certain issues, the agency said.“Waze is aware of the modus operandi adopted by the other accused persons in the collection of bribes and also has first-hand knowledge about the role of the other accused persons in the commission of the offence,” the agency said.The CBI had said that if Waze volunteered to make full and true disclosure of the whole circumstances within knowledge about his involvement and that of other accused persons in the case, this court, by imposing just and proper conditions, may pass an appropriate order for making him an approver in the interest of justice.(With PTI inputs)