In a significant development, the Bombay High Court on Monday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a preliminary probe within 15 days into allegations of corruption levelled against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh by former Mumbai Commissioner of Police Param Bir Singh.
Recently, Param Bir Singh was replaced as Mumbai Police Chief. He alleged that he was being targeted because he had complained to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray about Anil Deshmukh, listing several allegations including extortion and illegal transfers. That is what his petition seeks a probe into.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G.S. Kulkarni has asked the CBI to complete its 'preliminary probe' within 15 days on the issues raised by Singh in his letter-bomb last month.
The court had reserved its orders after hearing Singh's petition and some other PILs about the issue, on March 31. While in the previous hearing, the HC had questioned Mr Singh as to why no FIR was registered on his accusations against the Maharashtra Home Minister.
Bombay High Court Chief Justice CJ Dutta had said: "You are a police commissioner, why should the law be set aside for you? Are police officers, ministers and politicians all above the law? Are you saying that you are above the law?"
"We cannot throw aside laws because the home minister and Chief Minister are involved. If a PM is involved who will investigate? You want a superpower from outside?"
Mr Singh in his petition said his allegations were "hard facts coming from the person who occupied the highest post in the police force in the city and from someone who has served for more than 30 years."
Mr Singh had written an explosive letter to CM Uddhav Thackeray after his transfer, alleging Mr Deshmukh of asking police officers, including Sachin Waze, who arrested by the National Investigation Agency in the case of an SUV car carrying gelatin explosives parked near businessman Mukesh Ambani’s residence in Mumbai to collect ₹ 100 crores each month from bars and restaurants.
Also Read: Mamata Banerjee slams Modi-Shah over IT raids on opposition parties in Howrah rally
The petition also mentions Mr Deshmukh of corruption in police transfers and postings, based on allegations by an IPS officer, Rashmi Shukla.
However, Mr Deshmukh has denied the allegations. The revelation has caused a rift within ruling coalition partners Shiv Sena and NCP in Maharashtra.