The Bombay High Court on Monday ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a preliminary probe into former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh’s allegations against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G.S. Kulkarni has asked the CBI to complete its ‘preliminary probe’ within 15 days on the issues raised by Singh in his letter-bomb last month.
Param Bir Singh’s plea alleged that Deshmukh had asked police officers, including suspended assistant police inspector Sachin Waze who has been arrested in the case of bomb scare near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence, to collect ₹100 crore each month from bars and restaurants.
The public interest litigation also alleged corruption in police transfers and postings and political interference in probes.
On March 31, the court had reserved its order on the issue of maintainability of the PIL.
Surjitt Sahani
