SC Grants Protection From Arrest To Ex-Mumbai Police Chief Param Bir Singh

Param Bir Singh's advocate told the Supreme Court that Singh is hiding as he faces threat to his life from Mumbai Police.

Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh

New Delhi: The Supreme Court heard former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh's plea and granted him protection from arrest after Singh's lawyer told the court that he is "very much in the country and is not absconding." 

The apex court also directed him to join the investigation, reported ANI.

Param Bir Singh's advocate further told the Supreme Court that Singh is hiding as he faces threat to his life from Mumbai Police but that he is ready to appear before CBI within 48 hours, said an ANI report.

The Supreme Court also issued notice to the Maharashtra government and CBI and adjourned the matter for hearing on December 6.

The top court had made it clear during the last hearing on Thursday that it will not entertain Singh's plea for protection against arrest in an alleged extortion case until his location is known.

The bench headed by justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul had Singh's lawyer on November 18 that his petition will be heard "only after he tells which part of the country or the world he is in".

"No protection, no hearing till we have the answer to the question - where are you?" the bench told Singh's counsel, who then sought time till Monday to get instructions.

A bench headed by Justice S K Kaul had took exception that his plea seeking protection has been filed through power of attorney.

A Mumbai court had previously declared Singh a proclaimed offender as he did not show up for the hearing despite several notices against him. Subsequently, a non-bailable warrant was issued against the former Mumbai top cop.

Singh had last attended his office in May this year after which he went on leave. The state police had told the Bombay High Court last month that his whereabouts were not known.

The crime branch of Mumbai Police, which is probing the extortion case, had sought the proclamation against him, saying that the IPS officer could not be traced even after the issuance of a non-bailable warrant.

Under Section 82 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, a court can publish a proclamation requiring an accused to appear if a warrant issued against him or her cannot be executed.

(With PTI inputs)