What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
SS-BJP Maharashtra government drops charges against Singh, suspension revoked
NEW DELHI: In a significant turn of events, the Maharashtra government, led by Shiv Sena (SS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has dropped all charges against former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh.
Additionally, the current SS-BJP state government, led by Eknath Shinde, has revoked Singh’s suspension, which was imposed by the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, led by Uddhav Thackeray.
An order issued by the Maharashtra home department stated, “The memorandum of charges dated 02/12/2021 issued against Param Bir Singh, IPS (Retd), under Rule 8 of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, is being withdrawn, and the said matter is being closed.”
Regarding Singh’s suspension, the order further stated, “As per the provisions of the All India Services (Death-Cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules, 1958, the suspension of Param Bir Singh, IPS (Retd), is revoked by this order, and the period of suspension from 02/12/2021 to 30/06/2022 shall be treated as a period spent on duty for all purposes.”
Reacting to the decision, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said, “The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) issued a judgment declaring Param Bir Singh’s departmental inquiry and suspension as incorrect and ordered their closure. This decision was made in accordance with that judgment.”
Copy of the Maharashtra government’s order on former Mumbai CP Param Bir Singh
Param Bir Singh found himself in a difficult situation due to his disagreements with the then Maharashtra Home Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, Anil Deshmukh, in the Antilia bomb scare case. This case involved the placement of explosives outside the residence of Reliance boss Mukesh Ambani.
As a consequence of the Antilia bomb scare case, Singh was removed from the post of Mumbai Police Commissioner. After levelling charges of corruption and extortion against Deshmukh, who belongs to the alliance of Shiv Sena and Congress, Singh was demoted and appointed as the Director General of Maharashtra State Home Guard.
In July 2021, Singh, along with 28 others, including six police officials, faced extortion charges filed by builder Shyam Sunder Agarwal. The accusation was that they extorted money from Agarwal.
Another extortion case was filed against Singh at Goregaon police station based on the complaint of builder-turned-hotelier Bimal Agrawal, who alleged that Singh and suspended police officer Sachin Waze extorted cash and valuables totalling ₹11 lakh from him.
In December 2021, Singh was suspended by the MVA government led by Thackeray.
Singh also made headlines for implicating Republic TV in the TRP scam case, even though the initial FIR did not name the channel. Later, Singh admitted that the TRP case against Republic Media Network was part of a planned conspiracy against journalist Arnab Goswami. During an interrogation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Singh alleged that ex-police officer Sachin Vaze took instructions from then Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in the TRP case and other cases.
Under Singh’s tenure, Goswami, the chief of Republic TV, was arrested in an old case that had already been closed. However, Singh later turned against Deshmukh, claiming that the tainted police officer Vaze was instructed by Deshmukh to collect ₹100 crores in extortion money every month.
Singh also alleged that Arnab Goswami was intentionally targeted in an old case related to the abetment of suicide, as per specific orders from the MVA government.
