Soni Satti
The Bombay High Court received a plea seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the allegations made against the former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh and Maharashtra Home minister Anil Deshmukh.
The petition filed by Dr. Jaishri Laxmanrao Patil alleged that Deshmukh is an untrustworthy minister as he recently got caught for abusing his powers by asking and instructing officers to extort money from businessmen and the common citizens.
The plea placed a letter as a piece of evidence. The letter was written by Param Bir Singh to the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray informing him about Deshmukh’s constant interference with police investigations and also mentions Deshmukh’s repeatedly calling the officers, giving them orders about what actions are to be followed during an investigation.
The letter further stated that Anil Deshmukh is involved in extorting money amounting to Rs. 40-50 crores. He allegedly asked Mumbai Police officer Sachin Waze to collect a heavy amount of money (approx. 2-3 lakh rupees) from about 1,750 bars, restaurants, and similar institutions in Mumbai.
The petitioner Dr. Jaishri Laxmanrao Patil additionally contented before the court that even Param Bir Singh did not take notice of the matter and failed to lodge an FIR against Anil Deshmukh.