Mahima
The Bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice GS Kulkarni of the Bombay High Court will hear former Commissioner of Police Param Bir Singh’s plea against Home Minister of Maharashtra, Anil Deshmukh. The plea seeks an ‘impartial’ probe led by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against the alleged corrupt malpractices of Anil Deshmukh. Singh had previously alleged that Deshmukh had asked suspended officer Sachin Waze to collect Rs. 100 crore from bars and restaurants.
Senior Advocate Vikram Nankani also notified the court that senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi who represented Param Bir Singh in Supreme Court is willing to address the court but that is only possible if the hearing is conducted through hybrid hearing. On the request of hybrid hearing, which includes both physical hearing and video conferencing, the court responded, “We have received several recommendations for hybrid hearing but we have not yet decided. We will take a call when experts tell us.”
Singh in his plea also sought directions to the CBI to immediately take custody of the entire CCTV footage from Anil Deshmukh’s residence to prevent its destruction. He also raised issues of his own transfer and sought quashing of order transferring him from
the post of Mumbai CP alleging it to be arbitrary and illegal. Earlier, Supreme Court also observed that allegations and counter-allegations in this case are serious but High Court should hear it at first. Mumbai-based lawyer Dr. Jaishri Laxmanrao Patil also filed a plea seeking CBI probe into allegations against Singh and Deshmukh which is pending.