New Delhi, Jan 11 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it is a “very disturbing” scenario in Maharashtra where former Mumbai Police Commissioner, Param Bir Singh, is having no faith in its own police force and the state government is having no faith in the probe agency, CBI.
The Central Bureau of Investigation told the Supreme Court that it is ready to take over the probe in the criminal cases lodged by Maharashtra police against Param Bir Singh.
The CBI also expressed apprehension that the state government take steps which could make its task difficult in concluding the probe against former home minister Anil Deshmukh.
The Supreme Court’s division Bench, headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and also comprising Justice MM Sundresh refused to extend further protection from arrest to Singh.
The Bench said, “This is the same police force that you headed. Now, what do we say, the head of the police force has no trust in the police force, the administration has no trust in the CBI. Look at the scenario which is being painted. It is a very disturbing scenario for us. We can’t resolve it peacefully.”
It added, “The state government doesn’t think it appropriate for CBI to look into it and they filed a plea regarding this in Bombay High Court which they lost. Now the matter is in the Supreme Court. We do not know what will be the view of the concerned Bench here. We have given you (Singh) enough protection, we are not giving any more protection.”
The apex court was hearing a petition filed by Singh seeking protection from coercive steps by Mumbai police in the cases registered against him.
During the hearing, senior advocate Puneet Bali, appearing for Singh, told the Bench that the former Mumbai Police Commissioner is being targeted and the State government is trying to scuttle the probe in the CBI matter.
Senior advocate Darius Khambatta, appearing for Maharashtra, told the Bench that the State government has filed an appeal in the top court against the Bombay High Court order dismissing its plea to hand over the investigation into the ‘cash-for-transfer’ allegations against former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh from the CBI to a Special Investigation Team.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the CBI told the top court that agency has filed an affidavit in the matter and it is ready to take over the probe in one of the criminal cases lodged by Maharashtra police against Singh.
The bench now posted the matter for hearing on February 22.
Singh, a 1988-batch IPS officer, was removed from the post of Mumbai Police Commissioner on March 17 and was made the General Commander of Maharashtra State Home Guard after he levelled allegations against Deshmukh.
