Bombay HC Orders CBI Inquiry On Anil Deshmukh Over Charges Levelled By Param Bir Singh

Bombay High Court has ordered a CBI investigation against state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh

Anil Deshmukh / Facebook

The Bombay High Court on Monday directed CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry into corruption allegations against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh based on the petition filed by lawyer Jayshri Patil.

The bench ordered the Director of CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry in accordance with law and conclude it within 15 days. Once the preliminary inquiry is complete, the director CBI is at discretion to further course of action CBI inquiry shall be completed in 15 days, the CBI can proceed in accordance with law', ordered the bench in a PIL filed by former Mumbai Police Commissioner.

While hearing a plea by Parambir Singh's advocate Dr Jaishri Patil's plea regarding allegations of former Mumbai Police Commissioner Parambir Singh, Bombay High Court says Anil Deshmukh is the Home Minister and no impartial probe can be done by the police.

However, since the allegations are being probed by a high-level committee initiated by the Maharashtra government, the court said that CBI need not immediately register an FIR in the case.

Last month, Param Bir Singh moved the HC seeking an "immediate and unbiased" probe against Deshmukh, who he claimed asked police officer Sachin Vaze to collect ₹100 crore from bars and restaurants.

Singh had initially approached the Supreme Court with his plea. The Supreme Court had observed that the allegations and counter-allegations between Singh and Deshmukh are serious, but the case should be heard by the High Court first. Subsequently, Singh withdrew the plea before the Supreme Court and moved the High Court.

The former top cop had mentioned in his plea that Anil Deshmukh used to frequently interfere with police investigations and even held meetings at his residence with police officers. In these meetings, Deshmukh instructed the officers to collect ₹100 crore per month from various establishments, the plea reads.