Anil Deshmukh likely to resign as Maharashtra Home Minister - Reports

The Bombay High Court on Monday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to start a preliminary investigation into the corruption allegations of former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. Now as per a ABP Majha report, Anil Deshmukh is now likely to resign from the Maharashtra cabinet. Param Bir Singh had earlier last month moved the HC seeking an "immediate and unbiased" probe against Deshmukh, who he claimed asked police officer Sachin Waze to collect ₹100 crore from bars and restaurants. The ex-top cop said in his plea that Deshmukh held meetings at his residence with several Mumbai police officials, including Waze, in February this year.

In these meetings, Deshmukh instructed the officers to collect ₹100 crore per month from various establishments, the plea reads. It added that Deshmukh regularly interfered with police functioning and often misused his office. Deshmukh's conduct warranted a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the plea read. In an earlier petition in the Supreme Court, Singh had challenged his transfer and sought CBI inquiry against Deshmukh. However, the apex court refused to entertain his plea and said Singh should approach the Bombay HC first. Singh apprised chief minister Thackeray of these allegations, but "immediately thereafter, on March 17" he was shunted out to the Home Guards Department without allowing him to complete the "minimum fixed tenure of two years", he said. Deshmukh had later stated that the allegations levelled against him will be investigated by a retired high court judge. "Maharashtra CM has decided that the allegations levelled against me by former Mumbai Police Commissioner will be probed by a retired high court judge," said Deshmukh. He had written to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, urging him to order a probe into the allegations. In his letter, Deshmukh had said that there is "no truth" in the allegations.