Given the fact that the allegations Param Bir Singh made against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh are very serious in nature. Has he surrendered to BJP and trying for image building? Or he is irked with the statements given by Anil Deshmukh to media, that there were serious lapses committed at Singh’s office, by the Mumbai Police and he in the investigation of the Antilia incident; Deshmukh said Singh’s serious lapses are not pardonable, and his transfer was not on administrative grounds.
Singh has held many important posts in the Maharashtra police. Before becoming DG-ACB, he had served as the Commissioner of Police at Thane. During his tenure as CP in Thane, he had arrested Iqbal Kaskar, brother of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, in an extortion case. He had also busted a major drug cartel during his tenure in Thane. Singh had also served as the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) in the state. How come such an efficient cop failed under Maha Vikas Aghadi?
When Param Bir Singh was replaced with Sanjay Barve, Singh was Director-General of Police for Anti Corruption Bureau (DG-ACB). A number of officers, other than Param Bir Singh, were in the race to become Mumbai CP. They included Hemant Nagrale, Rashmi Shukla, Rajnish Seth, Bipin Bihari, and Sadanand Date; one can imagine why Singh was chosen among all these officers.
An officer, who stood by his oath as a Police Officer for 32 years was rummaged through so many attacks from politicians, media, and social media. Singh’s transfer was effected under section 22N (2) of the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951 with the reason that his transfer was demanded by administrative emergencies. The reason for his transfer was to ensure a free and fair investigation in the Antilia incident.
Well, Param Bir Singh was transferred to the Home Guard and then he made serious allegations but when he was Mumbai Police Commissioner, he never levelled such charges against the home minister. What has made him speak now and remain silent then? Why did he selectively pick Anil Deshmukh? Just because Shiv Sena defended him saying that his transfer does not make him a criminal, and alleged that a “particular lobby in Delhi” was upset with him as the TRP scam came to light during his tenure?
After realizing that he would be removed as the CP on March 17, a day earlier (March 16) Singh called ACP Sanjay Patil, asked him some questions, and got the answers he wanted. Even in Maharashtra, Vinod Rai tendencies are in administration. Congress alliance government didn’t come to know about Satyapal Singh. The letter clearly appears to be a postscript. Conversation being shown today should have happened a year ago. No sane person would do that after the Antelia case.
How did BJP level the same allegations of ransom earlier? If the SSR case can be registered in Patna, why can’t Mohan Delkar’s case be investigated in Mumbai where he committed suicide? As per CRPC investigation takes place where the incident took place. Do so-called SMS proofs appear to be manufactured for self-defense?
Well! Even if Singh’s allegations proven to be futile, are we not aware that the “Hafta” is collected in Mumbai right from small shopkeepers to Bollywood this is nothing new, be it any government ask any Mumbai restaurant and bar owners they will confirm the narrative. Most of the Mumbaikars are aware of it that Police are equally corrupt as politicians here.
To come clean, Param Bir Singh should reveal how much money he and his officers collected so far and gave it to the Home Minister until he was removed as CP. He should also swear and tell that his officers never collected any money for any other previous governments. Is he indicating the money counting machine that was found in Vaze’s car? What Singh is trying to say? Is this the first time Singh is facing such a situation?
Controversies are not new to Singh, then why is he in a hurry to bring the state home minister in a bad light? In 2009, Param Bir Singh was accused of falsely framing the co-owner of Provogue, Salil Chaturvedi in a drug case. However, later Chaturvedi was acquitted of the case. One of the most controversial tenures of Param Bir Singh was during his days he was the Additional Commissioner of Police (ATS). He was accused of severe torture by Sadhvi Pragya Singh.
Sadhvi Pragya had alleged that Khanvilkar, Param Bir Singh, and (late) Hemant Karkare – all men – tortured her. Never before or after Independence has a woman been tortured like she was.
Another accused and retired army officer Ramesh Upadhyay had also made similar charges against Singh saying he was tortured by Additional Commissioner of Police (ATS) Parambir Singh and Sukhwinder Singh in custody.
After the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking action against these officers and their suspension on the charges that officers such as Param Bir Singh had failed to follow orders of the then police commissioner. The petitioner had claimed that the senior officers obeyed the orders, the terror situation would have been brought under control much earlier and many lives could have been saved.
