Maha ACB to probe ex-Mumbai top cop Param Bir Singh

Mumbai, July 15 Fresh trouble was brewing for former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh as the Maharashtra government on Thursday ordered the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to investigate corruption charges levelled against him by a junior officer.

Currently the Commandant General of Home Guards, Singh has earlier served as city police chief of both Mumbai and Thane, and is reported to be on medical leave since over two months.

Following a complaint by Mumbai Police Inspector Anup Dange alleging that he was approached by a person claiming to be a relative of Singh and sought gratification of Rs 2 crore to reinstate him, the ACB had sought the state government's clearance for an open enquiry against the ex-top cop.

Dange, who was previously attached to Gamdevi Police Station and later Mumbai Police Control Room (South Region), had been suspended during Singh's tenure.

He said in his detailed complaint that after he had taken action against a bar owner in 2019, Singh had ordered his suspension, and also accused him of trying to shield some elements with mafia links when he was the DG, ACB.

With the state government's green signal given last Monday, the ACB is now likely summon Singh to record his statement and submit its report on the open enquiry to the Home Department.

The controversial Singh already has a first information report lodged against him for alleged wrongs committed when he was Thane Police chief and is named as one of the witnesses in the cases pertaining to the SUV with gelatin sticks planted near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's home, and the subsequent death of vehicle owner Mansukh Hiran.

After his sensational 'letter-bomb' of April targeting then state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, which embarrassed the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi government, the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate recorded his statements.