Param Bir Singh writes to Maharashtra CM alleging interference by State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in police functioning [Read Letter]

Former Commissioner of Mumbai Police, Param Bir Singh has written a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray alleging that State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh frequently interfered with police investigation in various cases and also made untruthful statements about Singh's transfer as Commandant General of Home Guards, Maharashtra.

The 8-page long letter by Singh alleged that Deshmukh constantly gave instructions to the police force directing it to adopt a particular course of investigation.

Singh also stated that when he tried to express his reservations against such interference, Deshmukh found such resistance undesirable.

The former Commissioner of Police was transferred as Commandant General of Home Guards, Maharashtra on March 17 and he had assumed charge of the new post from the very next day.

Singh’s transfer was claimed to be under administrative exigencies. According to his file, he was being transferred to “ensure a free and fair investigation in the Antilia incident.”

The Antilia incident refers to the case wherein an explosive laded SUV was found outside the residence of Mukesh Ambani.

Deshmukh had in an interview on March 18, stated the following with the regard to the same:

1. That there were serious lapses committed by the Mumbai Police and Singh in the investigation of the Antilia incident;

2. The lapses could not be pardoned;

3. That Singh's transfer was not on administrative grounds.

Singh in his letter reminded that he had held a meeting with Thackeray to bring to his attention the misdeeds and malpractices of Deshmukh.

He also said that when he held similar briefings with other senior ministers including Ajit Pawar, Deputy CM and Sharad Pawar, President of the Nationalist Congress Party, he noticed that they seemed to have been aware of the misdeeds.

Singh further claimed that Deshmukh had invited Mumbai Police officer Sachin Waze for a meeting at his residence in relation to the collection of funds for himself.

Waze was allegedly asked to collect approximately 2-3 lakh rupees from about 1,750 bars, restaurants and similar establishments in Mumbai to ensure a monthly collection of Rs. 40-50 crores.

"The Hon’ble Home Minister expressed to Shri Vaze that he had a target to accumulate Rs. 100 crores a month. For achieving the aforesaid target, the Hon’ble Home Minsiter told Shri Vaze that there are about 1,750 bars, restaurants and other establishments in Mumbai and if a sum of Rs. 2-3 lakhs each was collected from each of them, a monthly collection of Rs. 40-50 crores was achievable," the letter said.

A similar suggestion was allegedly also made to Sanjay Patil, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Social Service Branch.

Singh also reproduced the text conversation he had with Patil to substantiate his claim.

He stated that these corrupt malpractices of instructing the police officers "to carry out official assignments and collection schemes including financial transactions as per his instruction based on his expectations and targets to collect money" were brought to his attention by his officers.

Regarding the death by suicide of Mohan Delkar, Member of Parliament from Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Deshmukh had desired from the beginning that an abetment to suicide case be registered in Mumbai and not in Dadra & Nagar.

Delkar in his suicide note had allegedly blamed his death on troubles created by the senior officials of Dadra & Nagar Haveli.

Singh in his letter stated that despite the contrary opinions of legal experts, Deshmukh announced the setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and registration of an FIR into Delkar's case on the floor of Maharashtra Assembly.

Singh claimed that there was not an iota of evidence against him, except for conjectures and surmises.

"The call records and phone data of Shri Sachin Vaze be examined to ascertain the truth of the allegations qua me and for the truth to emerge insofar as his association with political functionaries is concerned," the letter said.

[Read Letter]