An affidavit has been submitted before an inquiry commission by former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh to probe into the corruption allegations against former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh, In the affidavit, Singh says that he does not have any further evidence to share to prove Anil Deshmukh's role in corruption cases, PTI reported.
Param Bir Singh had written an 8-page letter to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, in April 2021, alleging that former minister Anil Deshmukh - with the help of API Sachin Vaze - collected 100 crore rupees a month as extortion from bars, restaurants, etc. It is now being said by Singh that he does not have any further evidence to provide except for the letter he had written to the CM.
In March 2021, the Maharashtra government formed the one-member commission to probe Singh’s allegations against Deshmukh. It has to be noted that four cases of extortion are also registered against Param Bir Singh, out of which two FIRs are on non-bailable offenses. Singh has been absconding since then and has not appeared for cross-examination.
The commission had imposed fines on Singh – of Rs 5,000 in June and Rs 25,000 each on two other occasions for not appearing.
Shishir Hirey, special public prosecutor in the case, appearing for the inquiry commission, said, “Param Bir Singh has refused to give any more evidence in the matter other than the letter that he had initially forwarded to the chief minister and the home minister.”
Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing Anil Deshmukh in these matters.
Deshmukh was on Monday arrested by the ED in a money laundering case. He was on Tuesday remanded in the ED’s custody till November 6.
(With inputs from PTI)