Ensure Param Bir Singh's Presence, Inquiry Commission Tells His Lawyer

The Chandiwal judicial committee constituted to probe ex- Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh's allegations against NCP leader Anil Deshmukh warned Singh to appear before it. "The bailable warrant is still in force. Ensure the presence of Param Bir Singh before the commission or then the police will be directed to execute the warrant," Justice KU Chandiwal told Singh's lawyer. Meanwhile the commission continued dismissed cop Sachin Waze's cross examination. In his March 2021 letter to the Chief Minister, Singh alleged that Deshmukh had asked dismissed cop Sachin Waze and two other officers to illegally collect Rs 100 crore from bar owners every month for him. Deshmukh is in prison pursuant to several investigations initiated pursuant to Singh's letter. Following the letter, the Maharashtra government formed the one-member commission to probe Singh's allegations against Deshmukh. Despite the commission issuing multiple summons and a bailable warrant against Singh, he has not appeared before it so far. Thrice the commission had imposed fines on Singh – of Rs 5,000 in June and Rs 25,000 each on two other occasions – for failing to appear before it. It is only on Monday, that Singh informed the commission through Advocate Abhinav Chandrachud about his willingness to file an affidavit. He, however, said his presence should be dispensed with. Chandrachud had told the court that Singh's information or allegations in the letter were based on information some officers had provided to him and he had no first-hand information of what transpired. "His information in that sense is hearsay. Even if he were to step into the witness box it would have no value in law because it would be what someone else told him. Therefore, he has nothing to depose," Advocate Chandrachud said. When Justice Chandiwal enquired about Singh's whereabouts today, his advocate informed the court that he would take instructions but did not mention Singh's arrival from Chandigarh. Today, after over seven months, Singh appeared before the Mumbai Crime Branch to join investigations. Multiple FIRs of extortion have been registered against Singh. He is not likely to appear before the commission on Friday. Singh has finally appears after the Supreme Court granted him protection. The IPS officer was shunted out of the Mumbai Police Commissionerate by the Maharashtra Government after the Ambani terror scare case. On March 20, he then write the scathing letter to the Chief Minister. In the meantime, Advocate Anita Castellino sought for Anil Deshmukh, currently in custody in connection with the ED case based on the corruption allegation, to also be produced. Castellino said she would apply to the Special PMLA Court for Deshmukh to be produced before the commission.

Ensure Param Bir Singh's Presence, Inquiry Commission Tells His Lawyer

Sharmeen Hakim

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