Maharashtra govt, Anil Deshmukh ask Top Court to cancel CBI probe against him

By LE Desk

Mumbai, April 6: The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and its former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Tuesday asked the Supreme Court to cancel a preliminary CBI probe ordered into allegations of corruption against him. The Bombay High Court had on Monday sought the probe based on charges levelled by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh. A team of the investigating agency was to reach Mumbai today to initiate the process.

Singh, in his plea filed on March 25, sought such a probe against Deshmukh who, he claimed, had asked police officers, including suspended cop Sachin Waze, to extort ₹ 100 crore from bars and restaurants. Waze has been arrested by the NIA in connection with the probe into the explosive-laden SUV found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence in Mumbai. The petition also alleged corruption on his part in police transfers and postings.

Even though the High Court questioned Singh for not filing a case against Deshmukh till then, it said a probe by an independent agency was necessary to “instil public confidence and safeguard the fundamental rights of the citizens”.  The High Court had called the situation arising out of Singh’s petition “extraordinary” and “unprecedented”, warranting an independent inquiry.

Within hours of the High Court order on Monday, Deshmukh resigned, citing moral grounds. Both he and his party, the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party, have denied the allegations.

They have said that Singh, removed from the Mumbai Commissioner’s post over the alleged mishandling of the Ambani bomb-scare case, was trying to divert attention from his own affairs, as reported by NDTV.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/maharashtra-government-anil-deshmukh-request-supreme-court-to-cancel-cbi-probe-against-him-in-corruption-case-2407414