[Param Bir Singh plea] "Where are you? No hearing till we have answer to that:" Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Thursday said that it will not hear a plea filed by senior IPS officer Param Bir Singh challenging the inquiries initiated against him by the Maharashtra government, until the absconding officer discloses his whereabouts to the Court (Param Bir Singh v. State of Maharashtra)..The Bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MM Sundresh was miffed because the plea before the top court had been filed through a power of attorney holder and Singh's whereabouts remained unknown. The Bench made it clear to the lawyers appearing for Singh, that it will not hear the plea or grant Singh any protection unless the Court is informed about the officer's whereabouts."No protection, no hearing till we have an answer to the question - where are you," the Bench said.The Court was hearing a plea against a September 16 judgment of the Bombay High Court which had dismissed the petition filed by Singh challenging two preliminary inquiries initiated against him by the Maharashtra government.Singh has remained absconding for the past many weeks and a Mumbai court had, on Wednesday, allowed a plea by Mumbai Police to declare the officer as 'proclaimed offender'.The Supreme Court on Thursday, expressed doubts about whether Singh has escaped the country."Your petition has been filed by your power of attorney holder. Where are you? Are you in the country or outside. We could be wrong but if you are somewhere abroad and waiting for Supreme Court orders, how can we give it," the Court demanded.The counsel for Singh then said that she can check with the power of attorney holder about Singh's whereabouts and get back to the Court."(Only ) if I an allowed to breathe I can get out of the hole," said the arguing counsel for Singh."You are seeking protection order (but) you have not joined investigation," the Court pointed out.The Court then listed the matter for Monday next week..A Mumbai court had on Wednesday allowed the application filed by Mumbai Police for declaring Singh as a "proclaimed offender" . The application was filed against Singh and two other accused, Vinay Singh @ Bablu and 'Dawood aide' Riyaz Bhati, in a case registered based on a complaint by hotelier Bimal Agarwal against the three accused as well as dismissed Mumbai 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, 385 388, 389 (extortion), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.The application before the Mumbai court stated that despite having issued multiple non-bailable warrants, the three accused continued to remain missing, and their existence concealed.With regard to Singh, the Mumbai Police had stated that he could not be traced and he has not been to his Malabar Hill residence for the past three months..[Read Order]