With the attack by the Opposition BJP against the Maharashtra government intensifying, Sharad Pawar, whose party NCP is a part of the coalition running the state, said that the allegations levelled by former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh against home minister Anil Deshmukh are serious and require an in-depth probe.
Pawar, while talking to reporters in Delhi, suggested that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will take a decision in this matter and also action against Deshmukh. Singh has claimed that Anil Deshmukh wanted police officers to extort Rs 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels.
Pawar said neither the chief minister nor the state home minister was responsible for the reinstatement of police officer Sachin Waze in the police force last year.
The NCP chief said he has spoken to Thackeray regarding Singh’s letter. “I would suggest to Uddhav Thackeray to seek former IPS officer Julio Ribeiro’s help for looking into the claims made by Param Bir Singh,” he added.
Pawar said Singh made the allegations after his transfer on March 17 to the Home Guards.
The copy of that unsigned letter which I have received has two parts. In first part, there are certain allegations against the Maharashtra Home Minister Mr. Anil Deshmukh and the second part is regarding his directions to the CP against his advice regarding…
— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) March 21, 2021
In his briefing to me as stated in the letter, he did not mention about the actual collected money or the money being transferred or handed over to the Home Minister or his staff.
As former CP of Mumbai mentioned my name, it is true that he met me before his transfer.— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) March 21, 2021
The decision to reinstate Mr. Vaze in service was neither taken by Hon. Chief Minister nor Home Minister. It was taken by former CP himself and Vaze was given important sensitive assignments by the CP himself.
— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) March 21, 2021
But while the deceased person's wife made such strong allegation, the former CP never mentioned or alleged anything against the Home Minister.
All his allegations came forth when govt took action against him and he was shifted to less important department.— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) March 21, 2021
An in depth enquiry should be conducted by an officer or an individual who enjoys utmost respect of the Police Administration and the public at large.
— Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) March 21, 2021
No impact on MVA government, says Sharad Pawar
The NCP supremo said there is no impact on the MVA government because of Singh’s allegations. Efforts are on to destabilise the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra but they will prove futile, he added.
In the eight-page letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Singh alleged that Deshmukh used to call police officers to his official residence and give them a “collection target” from bars, restaurants, and other establishments.
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