Mumbai: Former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh allegedly made an astonishing claim that ex-Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh was “trembling with fear” when he had called him for questioning before three additional chief secretaries in connection with Antilia bomb scare case, a report on Thursday said.
He reportedly made the statements on Wednesday when he was questioned by dismissed Mumbai Police officer Sachin Waze’s counsel before Justice K U Chandiwal Commission.
Deshmukh further said the officers present there suggested that the matter be transferred to the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) but the former top cop objecting to it said that the investigation be left in the hands of Mumbai Police, ANI reported.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader reportedly said before Justice Chandiwal Commission that he transferred the case to the ATS on March 6, 2021, and removed Waze from the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU).
The single-member committee was formed by the Maharashtra government to investigate the charges levelled by the ex-Mumbai Police Commissioner against Deshmukh.
The committee was formed after Singh had alleged that Deshmukh wanted Vaze to “collect” Rs 100 crore per month from bars and hookah parlours.
Deshmukh had, however, rubbished accusations and said that the former top cop was levelling false allegations against him to save himself from action in the Antilia bomb scare case and Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiran’s death case.
The Enforcement Directorate had earlier on December 29, 2021, submitted a 7,000 plus pages chargesheet in the money laundering case they investigated against Deshmukh before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court.
The chargesheet also named Deshmukh’s two sons -- Hrishikesh and Salil -- as accused in the case.
Meanwhile, Deshmukh’s judicial custody has been extended by another 14 days.
Deshmukh, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate earlier on November 2 last year in connection with extortion and money laundering allegations against him, is currently lodged at Mumbai’s Arthur road jail.