LMOTY 2020: Anil Deshmukh reveals why Param Bir Singh was replaced as Mumbai Police Commissioner

After Sachin Waze’s arrest by the NIA in the Ambani security scare case, Param Bir Singh’s removal as Mumbai Police commissioner seemed a foregone conclusion. Now, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh during the Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year’ 2020 Awards spilled the beans on the controversial decision. Deshmukh said, mistakes revealed in the probe could not be condoned, so Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray decided to remove Param Bir Singh in the interest of fair investigations. "In the investigation, certain aspects came out that could not be accepted. That is why the Chief Minister and I decided that the probe should be fair and there should not be any obstruction of justice," Anil Deshmukh said. Param Bir Singh's transfer was not just an administrative decision, the minister said, in response to a question. "The probe by the NIA and ATS (Mumbai anti-terror squad) has revealed some aspects. On his (Singh's) watch, misdemeanors by his colleague cannot be forgiven. Now whatever will be revealed by the investigation, action will be taken accordingly," Mr Deshmukh said.

Param Bir Singh was transferred to Home Guard and Hemant Nagrale was appointed the new Mumbai police chief yesterday. The investigation has become contentious topic for the Maharashtra government, with the opposition BJP accusing Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray of shielding Sachin Waze, a controversial cop who was once a member of his Shiv Sena. The case involves a Scorpio SUV carrying gelatin sticks found abandoned on Mumbai's Carmichael Road, near Mukesh Ambani's 27-storey home Antilia, on February 25. It carried a threat letter to Mukesh and Nita Ambani. Sachin Waze was the first investigating officer in the case but the NIA suspects he played a more sinister role. The NIA, which took over the investigation from the Mumbai police, alleges that the number plate of the abandoned vehicle was found in a car that Sachin Waze was using.