MVA Govt appoints a committee to probe Param Bir Singh’s allegations against HM Anil Deshmukh

Justice (Retd) Kailash Chandiwal will probe allegations. Probe not under Commission of Enquiry Act. Govt not bound to submit report before legislature

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Mumbai: In an apparent bid to tone down the gravity of the probe and shield an embattled Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government on Tuesday appointed Justice (retired) Kailash Uttamchand Chandiwal to probe the allegations levelled by former Mumbai’s Commissioner of Police (CP) Param Bir Singh against the Home Minister.

The probe is not being held under the purview of the Commission of Enquiry Act and hence the state government is not duty bound to lay the inquiry report before the state legislature. The order comes just a day before Param Bir Singh’s plea comes up for hearing before the Bombay High Court on March 31.

Moreover, the order of the probe comes at a time when the nations premier investigation agency the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is already investigating the alleged mystery behind the death of Mansukh Hiren and the planting of explosives near the residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani.  

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Param Bir Singh in his letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on March 20-, 2021 had alleged that the Home Minister had asked suspended cop Sachin Vaze to collect Rs 100 crore per month from restaurants and bars in Mumbai.

The order issued by Maharashtra’s General Administration Department (GAD) states that the scope of the inquiry will be to ascertain if there is any truth in Singh’s letter and whether he has submitted any proof regarding the alleged irregularities or corrupt practices being followed by state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. 

The inquiry will confirm if the purported conversations between the former top cop and ACP Sanjay Patil and suspended police officer Sachin Waze are correct.

The high-level single-member committee will further advise the government if the matter needs to be probed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) or any other department. The report, with any other suggestions, if any must be submitted within six months.