Gave cyber expert Rs 5 lakh on Param Bir Singh’s order, says intelligence officer

Param Bir Singh

A cyber expert's statement to the NIA accusing former city police chief of paying him Rs 5 lakh to doctor a report tracing origin of the bomb threat to industrialist Mukesh Ambani has been corroborated in the version of an officer of state intelligence department. The officer, who was closely associated with former commissioner of police (CP) Param Bir Singh since 2006 when Singh was posted at the DCP of Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).

Since 2006, Singh would take along the intelligence officer to his other postings, including IG Konkan range, VIP security, ADG/SRPF, Thane CP, ADG law and order Maharashtra, DG ACB and then Mumbai CP. The officer is now posted as DG, Home Guard, with Singh who was transferred following the Antilia bomb scare case. In his statement to the National Investigation Agency, the officer said he used to look after Singh's personal work, like correspondences, maintenance of personal files and his family members.

The NIA also questioned the officer about the cyber expert's visit to the CP office where he was paid Rs 5 lakh for doctoring a report to fake the involvement of terror group Jaish-Ul-Hind in the Antilia case. In the statement, he said, "On March 3, one person was sitting in CP's chamber with a laptop, and later I learned that he was a cyber expert. Somewhere around 4.30 pm-5 pm, CP called me and asked me to give him R3 lakh and asked him [expert] whether the amount was sufficient, since he did not reply and hesitated to ask for more, CP sir asked me to add another R2 lakh. Accordingly, I gave him R5 lakh in a paper bag. The money was withdrawn from the SS fund."

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The NIA recorded the officer's statement on April 24 and again on August 13 this year. In the copy of the charge sheet with mid-day, two pages from the April 24 statement was not available. In the August 13 statement, the agency also obtained two Gmail IDs of Singh from the officer. On being asked about Singh's current location, the officer told the NIA that as per his knowledge he was at his native place in Chandigarh.

The officer also said that he with the help of a constable posted at Mumbai CP office called a person [name is not being revealed], as Singh wanted to buy a second-hand iPhone. The statement read that during April second week, the person came to DG, Home Guard office with three-four iPhones and spent 30 minutes in Singh's chamber. Singh bought one new iPhone, and the person was paid Rs 42,000, the officer told the NIA. The NIA charge sheet doesn't reveal the context of this statement and why they sought Singh's email IDs. The agency said the investigation is underway and the court has also granted permission for the same.