Supreme Court Transfers Investigation Of Cases Against Param Bir Singh To CBI

Mumbai Corruption Case: Param Bir Singh was shunted out as the Mumbai Police Commissioner in March 2021.

Former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh (Getty Images)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Maharashtra police to hand over alleged corruption cases registered against former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh to the CBI within a week.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MM Sundresh, however, refused to revoke the suspension of Param Bir Singh. The court said future FIRs related to the matter too would be transferred to CBI.

Last December, the Maharashtra government had suspended Param Bir Singh. He was then the Commandant-General of State Home Guards. 

"The exigencies in the advancement of principles of natural justice require the probe to be transferred to CBI. We are not saying appellant is a whistle-blower or anyone involved in this case is washed with milk," the court said, reported Bar and Bench.

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The Supreme Court also set aside the September 16 judgment of the Bombay High Court that had dismissed Singh's petition challenging two preliminary inquiries initiated against him by the Maharashtra government.

"We do not want the investigation to be influenced by the observation of this court. High Court has treated this as a service dispute, which it is not, and thus we set aside the High Court verdict. We allow the appeal and direct the probe into 5 FIRs be transferred to CBI with all records," the court said.

Senior Advocate Darius Khambata, representing the Maharashtra government, said the state was not in a position to accept the transfer to CBI since it would demoralise the police force, Bar and Bench reported.

"There is no material before your Lordships to show why in the interest of independence and impartiality this case should be transferred to the CBI," he said.

The apex court said a thorough investigation is required to regain faith of people in the state police.

Responding to Khambata, Justice Kaul said, "I am in favour of this that every matter should not go to CBI, why burden them? But what can be murkier than what is happening? Top echelons of police and ministry are making allegations against each other."

Param Bir Singh is facing several cases of extortion and corruption with cases lodged in Mumbai and Thane. He was declared a 'proclaimed offender' by a Mumbai court in November following a probe report submitted by Additional Chief Secretary Debashish Chakravarti.