Anil Deshmukh to be questioned by CBI on Wednesday over former Mumbai top cop's allegations
Mumbai/IBNS: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has asked former home minister of Maharashtra and NCP leader Anil Deshmukh to appear before it for preliminary enquiry (PE) in connection with the corruption charges pressed against him by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh in a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, said media reports.
In his letter, Singh had alleged that Deshmukh had set a target for the police to extort Rs 100 crore a month in Mumbai from bars, restaurants, hotels, and other sources and alleged that he asked police officers to conduct probes in the manner desired by him.
Param Bir Singh, who was transferred to low-key Home Guard in the aftermath of the investigation in connection with the Mukesh Ambani security scare case, had written the letter soon after he was replaced.
“Anil Deshmukh is the primary suspect in this enquiry. He needs to be questioned regarding the claims that he wanted Vaze to collect this scale of money every month. He will be confronted with the statements of Vaze, Param Bir Singh and his staff,” a Hindustan Times report quoted sources as saying.
As the investigation of an explosives-laden vehicle found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s house, Antilla, began, car parts trader and owner of the vehicle Hiran Mansukh was murdered, assistant police inspector Sachin Vaze was arrested, and Singh was removed from the post of Mumbai’s police commissioner.
The Bombay High Court ordered a CBI probe against Deshmukh on April 5, stating that an police investigation was not possible as the department reported to him.
On April 8, the Supreme Court upheld the Bombay High Court's decision on a CBI enquiry pointing out that both Param Bir Singh and Anil Deshmukh held high posts and worked closely with each other until they fell apart.
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