Param Bir Singh: Order allowing declaration as “absconding offender” recalled by Mumbai court

A Mumbai court on Thursday recalled its order permitting Mumbai Police to declare senior IPS officer Param Bir Singh as an “absconding offender” in an extortion case..The Court passed the order after Singh appeared personally before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) SB Bhajipale on Monday and sought withdrawal of the proclamation.The CMM at Esplanade had earlier allowed the application of the Mumbai Police seeking an order to declare Singh a proclaimed offender. Singh had three non-bailable warrants issued against him by different courts.The proclamation was issued in a case that was registered based on a complaint by hotelier Bimal Agarwal against several persons, which included dismissed cop Sachin Waze.Agarwal had alleged that Singh and Waze had extorted cash and valuables worth ₹11 lakh from him.Based on the complaint, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered for offences under Sections 384, 385, 389 (extortion) and 120 (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code..Despite having issued multiple non-bailable warrants against Singh, he continued to remain missing and concealed, which is when the police moved for proclamation. After the application was allowed by CMM, the Mumbai Police had commenced their procedure to declare Singh an offender. However, Singh landed in Mumbai last week after he was granted interim protection from arrest by the Supreme Court on November 22..Special counsel Shekhar Jagtap appearing for Mumbai Police, opposed the application.He argued that Singh had initially concealed himself from investigation and till date he did not disclose his whereabouts even in the present application.His application for withdrawal of proclamation had also not been signed either by himself or by his lawyer which indicated his “callous nature” towards the proceedings.Jagtap also asked the Court to note the official position Singh enjoyed in the Police Department and how he had misused his official car..On Thursday, the Magistrate recalled his earlier order which had allowed police to declared .Detailed order is awaited.