[BREAKING] No one in this case is washed with milk: Supreme Court transfers Param Bir Singh probe to CBI

The Supreme Court on Thursday transferred the investigation into the alleged wrongdoings on the part of former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh being probed by the Maharashtra Police, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)..A Bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MM Sundresh held,"The exigencies in the advancement of principles of natural justice require the probe to be transferred to CBI. We are not saying appellant is a whistle-blower or anyone involved in this case is washed with milk.".While doing so, the Court set aside the September 16 judgment of the Bombay High Court which had dismissed Singh's petition challenging two preliminary inquiries initiated against him by the Maharashtra government."We do not want the investigation to be influenced by the observation of this Court. High Court has treated this as a service dispute, which it is not, and thus we set aside the High Court verdict. We allow the appeal and direct the probe into 5 FIRs be transferred to CBI with all records."Such transfer is required to take place within one week, the Court directed..The Bench also clarified that it would not revoke Singh's suspension."So far as departmental proceedings are concerned, it will be appropriate to await the probe by CBI. We don't know whether this is the end of road or more FIRs will be registered. If more FIRs are registered, then those too will be transferred to CBI," the Court said..In the post-lunch session, Senior Advocate Darius Khambata said that the State government was not in a position to accept the transfer to CBI since it would demoralise the police force. He said,"There is no material before your Lordships to show why in the interest of independence and impartiality this case should be transferred to the CBI."Justice Kaul responded,"I am in favour of this that every matter should not go to CBI, why burden them? But what can be murkier than what is happening? Top echelons of police and ministry are making allegations against each other."Taking note of how public faith has been shaken in the wake of the controversy, Justice Kaul added,"Sometimes there is some ego battle between State and this agency. But what can be more glaring than this? Here, one is alleging another to take money. He (former State Minister Anil Deshmukh) was your appointee as a Police Commissioner...there is a battle royale going on. The two persons in this case certainly require investigation.".During the morning session of the hearing, the Bench observed that it is not impacted by media reports and will decide cases unaffected by such reports. Justice Kaul said,"Media reports don't bother us. Yesterday Maharashtra government officials made statements that they may not get a fair hearing by the judiciary and it was in press today and we read it. But this has not bothered us. We put it in the dustbin where it belongs.".Bali had argued that an independent probe by CBI was essential in the case."My police officers were called and asked to collect 100 crores from bars etc for (former State) Home Minister. This disturbs us and Mr Sharad Pawar concedes this. When this catches fire, I am transferred and Home Minister says there was dereliction of duty on my part," Bali submitted.Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, representing the CBI, also said that the agency should probe the case."The issue needs to be probed by CBI for a thorough and impartial probe. If any other agency also probes this along with CBI then it may create hurdle and overlapping of subject matter. There cannot be parallel investigation," he said..[Param Bir Singh case] "Media reports don't bother us:" Supreme Court on Maharashtra govt's remarks against judiciary.In November last year, the apex court granted Singh protection from arrest in various cases registered against him by the Maharashtra Police..Senior Advocate Puneet Bali along with Advocates Utsav Trivedi, Natasha Dalmia, Abhinay, Himanshu Sachdeva, Manini Roy, Aditya Soni, appeared for the former Mumbai top cop..[Read Order]