SC transfers to CBI probe against former Mumbai top cop Param Bir SinghSC transfers to CBI probe against former Mumbai police commission
New Delhi Mar 24 PTI The Supreme Court Thursday transferred to the CBI the investigation in multiple cases against former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh over allegations of misconduct and corruptionA very murky affair is going on amid echelons of power on who should investigate the matter a bench of Justices S K Kaul and M M Sundresh said while transferring the probe to the central investigative agencyThe exigencies in the advancement of principles ofjustice require the investigation to be transferred to CBI We are not saying appellant Singhis a whistle-blower or anyone involved in this case is washed with milk the bench notedThe bench also refused to revoke the suspension of Singh and said all future FIRs too will be transferred to CBIThe apex court said a thorough investigation is required to regain the faith of people in the state policeWe are unable to accept the contention that an FIR is registered by those who had complaints against the petitioner We are of the view that state itself should have allowed CBI to carry the investigationWe are of the prima facie view that there is some concerted effort which needs the investigation by CBI What is the truth who is at fault how does such scenario come to prevail is something which investigation must get into CBI must hold an impartial inquiry into all these aspects the court saidThe bench however noted it was not commenting on the merits of the allegations as it does not want the investigation to be influenced in any mannerWe do not want the investigation to be influenced by the observation of this court The High Court Bombay has treated this as a service dispute which it is not and thus we set aside the HC verdict We allow the appeal and direct the probe into 5 FIRs and three PEs be transferred to CBI with all recordsSuch transfer to be completed within one week and all officials to extend full cooperation to CBI to try arrive at the truth the bench said Singh is facing multiple cases of extortion corruption and misconduct and was removed from the post of Mumbai police chief over his alleged mishandling of the Antilia bomb scare case The top court had granted him a major relief on November 22 when it directed the Maharashtra Police not to arrest him in criminal cases lodged against him and wondered if he was being hounded for filing cases against police officers and extortionists what could happen to a common manThe Maharashtra police had earlier told the apex court that Singh cannot be considered a whistleblower under the law as he chose to speak out against alleged corruption involving former state home minister Anil Deshmukh only after he was transferredSeeking dismissal of Singhs plea for a CBI probe into the entire matter and against any coercive action by the state the Maharashtra government had filed an affidavit in the apex court and said that the ongoing investigation in criminal cases against the former top police officer should not be interfered withPrior to this the Bombay High Court had dismissed Singhs petition seeking quashing of inquiries initiated against him by the Maharashtra government and said he can approach the Central Administrative Tribunal holding it was a service matter It had rejected his claim that the governments action was a consequence of his allegations of corruption against Deshmukh PTI PKSSA SK SK
New Delhi Mar 24 PTI The Supreme Court Thursday transferred to the CBI the investigation in multiple cases against former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh over allegations of misconduct and corruptionA very murky affair is going on amid echelons of power on who should investigate the matter a bench of Justices S K Kaul and M M Sundresh said while transferring the probe to the central investigative agencyThe exigencies in the advancement of principles ofjustice require the investigation to be transferred to CBI We are not saying appellant Singhis a whistle-blower or anyone involved in this case is washed with milk the bench notedThe bench also refused to revoke the suspension of Singh and said all future FIRs too will be transferred to CBIThe apex court said a thorough investigation is required to regain the faith of people in the state policeWe are unable to accept the contention that an FIR is registered by those who had complaints against the petitioner We are of the view that state itself should have allowed CBI to carry the investigationWe are of the prima facie view that there is some concerted effort which needs the investigation by CBI What is the truth who is at fault how does such scenario come to prevail is something which investigation must get into CBI must hold an impartial inquiry into all these aspects the court saidThe bench however noted it was not commenting on the merits of the allegations as it does not want the investigation to be influenced in any mannerWe do not want the investigation to be influenced by the observation of this court The High Court Bombay has treated this as a service dispute which it is not and thus we set aside the HC verdict We allow the appeal and direct the probe into 5 FIRs and three PEs be transferred to CBI with all recordsSuch transfer to be completed within one week and all officials to extend full cooperation to CBI to try arrive at the truth the bench said Singh is facing multiple cases of extortion corruption and misconduct and was removed from the post of Mumbai police chief over his alleged mishandling of the Antilia bomb scare case The top court had granted him a major relief on November 22 when it directed the Maharashtra Police not to arrest him in criminal cases lodged against him and wondered if he was being hounded for filing cases against police officers and extortionists what could happen to a common manThe Maharashtra police had earlier told the apex court that Singh cannot be considered a whistleblower under the law as he chose to speak out against alleged corruption involving former state home minister Anil Deshmukh only after he was transferredSeeking dismissal of Singhs plea for a CBI probe into the entire matter and against any coercive action by the state the Maharashtra government had filed an affidavit in the apex court and said that the ongoing investigation in criminal cases against the former top police officer should not be interfered withPrior to this the Bombay High Court had dismissed Singhs petition seeking quashing of inquiries initiated against him by the Maharashtra government and said he can approach the Central Administrative Tribunal holding it was a service matter It had rejected his claim that the governments action was a consequence of his allegations of corruption against Deshmukh PTI PKSSA SK SK
